“You came all the way from California for this?”, a common question directed towards me, sometimes with a hint of a southern accent and a look of genuine confusion. I was beginning to wonder what was I doing in this tiny rural town in Virginia? but in the end, realized I had stumbled upon a hidden gem, and was grateful to have been that crazy Californian girl.

It wasn’t easy. Together with my Mom (in the blue shirt), we devised an elaborate plan to make this happen. She and a good family friend, Carol (pink shirt), met me in Ohio hauling tons of frames and supplies that I had shipped to her, and we drove down together to Virginia. Let's be clear, this trip would be nearly impossible without them, so thank you, thank you, thank you!

Now, WHY this competition, the Bath County Plein Air Festival? This was a juried entry competition, and the bar to get in was pretty high. After having some success while experiencing local competitions, it seemed like the next step was to a bigger pond in unknown territory. (To be honest, getting accepted seemed like a stretch, so I applied with a grain of salt.) 

Being the sixth year of the festival, many of the kinks were ironed out, and the Warm Springs Gallery owner and director, Barbara Buhr, knew how to sail a smooth running ship. Everything was impressive, from the clear and detailed emails, Facebook artist highlights, numerous activities and demos, to the overall marketing of the event. Barbara was also incredibly responsive and kind to my constant questions and concerns.

It's crucial to mention the importance of the Bath County community. Everyone there was so supportive of the arts! Several people graciously opened their homes to artists, which was a great experience and another way to connect with everyone. My hosts were just so incredible, and warm hearted. They had the most beautiful house sitting on top of a hill overlooking the town. This painting was created from their front yard!

Here is my gift to my hosts! That view out of the bedroom window was seriously inspiring.

Not only was it one of the most awe-inspiring houses I’ve stepped foot in, but they have a BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG *uncontrollable internal screaming*. Say hi to Toby.

My hosts not only hosted me, but also another artist, Alison Menke. A huge thank you to Alison for offering me rides now and then, and also letting me tag along with her one day to paint. She’s such a strong, independent, and inspiring person. I loved this pic of her painting her heart out in the yard.

The weather was warmer than I expected, and I deeply regretted wearing long pants most days, although the locals mentioned the weather was unusually warm and humid for this time of year. The humidity was a new plein air obstacle to me (However, I did go to school in Florida and grew up in Michigan, so I should have known better). 

Each night was capped off with an event organized by Barbara. From a wonderful dinner with the hosts, to a bbq and concert, a nocturne painting session, a farm to table experience, several artist demos, and the final celebration and gala, it was hard to be bored! We had plenty of chances to make connections and meet the community, as well as opportunities to have our work up for purchasing. They also fed us very well 😊. Here's a painting from the BBQ and Concert with the band, Bigfoot. I'm still dreaming about that pulled pork slider.

Truthfully, the socializing was difficult. It takes a lot of energy out of me, and it was difficult to approach new people, but by the end of the trip, I became acquainted with many kind community members and artists. A thank you to all that struck up a conversation with me that might have noticed my shyness.

One of the highlights is that the Warm Springs Gallery had a wet wall up all week which allowed us to put paintings up for sale immediately. This was so valuable, and it was exciting to see the new work each day. It stirred a lot of buzz in the community too, and pieces were flying off the shelves.

Seven of my paintings went to some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. There's no bigger compliment, and I'm truly honored!!! A huge thank you to them for supporting my work and giving my art good and loving homes! Here are a couple of them that sold.

As for the scenery, it’s really hard to beat the pristine countryside that is nestled in the blue Appalachian mountains, and accented with the surprisingly clear waters of the Cow Pasture River. The houses and farms there were right up my alley, and there were so many animals to pet and paint. The clouds ranged in size and shape, and each sunrise and sunset was pretty spectacular.

Saturday was the big day, and the volunteers and workers at the gallery had expertly hung everyone’s work. It was nice to have it done for us, and allowed us to have some down time and relax after working so hard all week. Judge Larry Moore was really friendly and approachable, and at the end of the night announced several deserving awards to fellow artists. Here's a picture of me with some of my work.

Sunday was the last day, and many artists had departed early. It was a chance to display some of our unsold art as well as small paintings. I mostly chatted with the other artists who felt pretty familiar at this point, and left feeling content and grateful. 

All in all, I can’t recommend this event enough. The stunning scenery, unique art loving community, high caliber of artists, and expertly organized aspect make it a treasure of an event to participate in. 

If you are in the area, please visit the Warm Springs Gallery where you can see work from the event. Here are the pieces I left behind that will be for available for sale until January. 

Thank you to everyone that I met on this trip for making this such a memorable and great experience. I hope to return and be reunited with all the friendly faces, and warm hearts!