Dreaming Of... Painting En Plein Air

I always bring a sketchbook when I travel. I think you see things better when you stop long enough to focus on your surroundings and attempt to capture them in a sketch our painting. Some of my most amazing and rewarding adventures have been En Plein Air painting workshops in Paris and Italy. But it's been more than a decade since I last had a chance to paint and study art history on a dedicated painting trip.

 Image from Montfaucon

I'm dreaming of packing my brushes again this year for an workshop in the Languedoc with artist Julie Houck. 

Image from Julie Houck

The 10-day workshop takes place in June, when the poppies and roses are in full bloom.

Image from Montfaucon

Daily painting excursions take in the beauty of the charming villages, farmland and vineyards of the Languedoc region.

Image from Montfaucon

So much inspiration to keep the brushes busy.

 Image from Montfaucon

Julie Houck is a talented artist who has been teaching plein air paiting for over 10 years. She strives to capture that "something else" in her work and "recreate the feeling of being there."

Painting by Julie Houk

I think I could learn a lot from her...

Painting by Julie Houck 

Whether or not packing my brushes for a painting adventure in France is in the cards or not...

 Painting by Julie Houck 

...one of my goals this year is to spend sometime painting en plein air in some kind of workshop either at home or farther afield.

Do you have a creative dream you would like to chase this year?