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Last week I attended the 2017 Bisbee Plein Air Festival, an event that I have participated in several times over the years. Those who know the town of Bisbee, AZ,  know of it's quirky personality. A historic town filled with beautiful architecture,  colorful red earth landscape dotted with greenery and once upon a time remainders of a bustling mining town. These scenes are iconic, and is generally predictable what will turn up in the artworks submitted during this plein air competition. This is a good thing, people love these recognizable scenes that Bisbee harbors and is one of many reasons why people return again and again to this award winning Southwest town. Oddly for me,  I was not drawn to the usual scenes this time around, I wanted to say something different about Bisbee...

My first inspiration was to do a nocturne overlooking the town, not the usual daytime depiction, but a night scene. It just so happened that the event fell on the full moon as well, giving an extra special focus to paint. It was magical!

Bisbee Moonrise • 12x6 in. • oil

Another inspiration for a different side of Bisbee happened in Lowell, about a 1/2 mile from Old Town Bisbee and technically still in the Bisbee city limits. Lowell is well known for it's "step back in time" appeal, with old store fronts, vintage cars, signs and memorabilia, with a funny feeling you might be in a Back to the Future movie landing you somewhere in the 1950s. Very inspirational for artists and photographers... however, not what caught my eye this time. No...what caught my eye was a run down, boarded up, bleak as can be building. I recognized a beauty in that bleakness, and wanted to capture it,  to tell it's hidden story. Here's the thing... there is a voice that pops up in one's head at this point saying "this isn't what people will be drawn to" or "this isn't iconic Bisbee", maybe not, but at that moment there was a choice, to stay true to my inspiration regardless if it's misunderstood, or to paint what is ordinarily appealing...very difficult choice when painting is one's livelihood. I chose to be true to my art, with the hope that the beauty I see transmits...

Door 74 • 12x9 in. • oil

I did paint a Bisbee scene that happened to be a popular subject among artists in the competition... the light and shadow play on this 1908 historic building, once the community center, were quick to grab the eye. It's lovely arched openings filled with deep darks, reflected lights and interesting edges only tempted one further. It was here that I painted alongside fellow artists in a joyful comradery of figuring out how to capture the mood and scene.

Popular Inspiration • 10x8 in. • oil

I won no awards at this event and I did not sell anything, but I had wonderful experiences and connections with friends and fellow artists. In all honesty those matter more.