This is a gift in appreciation of the work of Chris Ludke, a Plein Airist living on the coast in Virginia. 

 

She has a blog:  The Plein Air Experience (No camera needed).

https://thepleinairexperience.wordpress.com/

 

 

Little Marsh, 1986; 16-colour woodcut on Japanese tissue. 

Neil G. Welliver, 1929-2005, American.  Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia

 

 

Before I began reading her blog, I would not have known a marsh (swamp) from the dark side of the moon. 

Now I study their paintings because she has painstakingly taken us through the process by which she has repeatedly painted such swamps;

The problems which Plein Air painting presents;

and possible solutions.

 

Along with commentary about some aspects of her life,  the often bizarre values of our art establishment;

 

and recipes for deserts a l’Americaine (sweet sweet, moist) which she makes sometimes and recommends.

 

 

 

Swamp, oil on canvas, posted January 10, 2020.

Chris Ludke reviewing her painting of the swamp in the swamp.  Her blog noted that she  began the drawing for this painting in November 2019.

 

 

Swamp, oil on canvas; posted January 23, 2020. 

Chris Ludke on a post on which she considered whether this painting was finally finished.

 

 

All to say that I have grown wiser when I am running through our great museums commenting on this and that

 

as the result of her writing and painting and record.

 

I post this blog in appreciation on this July 4………..