Spent a spring day at Winterthur Museum and Gardens with my sister-in-law. Go in late April, early May for an explosion of color in Azalea Woods. Walked ourselves silly and took a bazillion reference photos.
This watercolor was painted in studio. I wanted to make the shadows darker to pop the whites. You can see the difference from my reference photo to the painting. Knowing when to stop is always the challenge, so I stopped. You always want to add that one more stroke you think will make or break a painting. Overall I think it was successful.
“Cohansey Time” watercolor by Yvonne Mucci 11×14 availableInitial graphite sketch.
Cumberland County’s Cohansey Riverfest Plein Air event is held annually in mid August. It is hosted by Gallery 50 located in Bridgeton, NJ. I love participating in this event because it calls attention to the Cohansey River. This is one of the most important water sheds in Southern New Jersey. The 111-square-mile Cohansey River Watershed encompasses one of the largest expanses of quality wetlands in the state.
I set up along the shore at the Bait Box. Beautiful, quiet, and peaceful scene. Each artist was allowed to enter two paintings. Both of mine will be on display during the month of September starting with an artist reception September 6th, 6:30pm, Gallery 50 on Commerce street in Bridgeton, NJ. See you there!
This painting is mounted on hardboard, spray varnished, and cold waxed which eliminates the need for mat and glass.
“View from Bacons Neck Road” watercolor by Yvonne Mucci 5×7 sold
This was my 2nd painting for the day. Caught this red barn on my way to the Bait Box and had to do a little color sketch. Such a perfect way to spend the day!
The morning started with fog so thick I wasn’t sure about being on time to have my paper stamped at Gallery 50 for the Four Color Plein Air event. It had lifted by the time I got there. Should have been really cold out, I sure dressed for it, but turned out to be sunny and 62º.
I wanted to paint along the Cohansey river. Heading south out of Bridgeton, New Jersey I followed the road and caught a clear view to my right. Plenty of room for my car and easel. Great day of painting, had several local residents stop to see how the painting was progressing. They love this area as do I! “Almost Winter” watercolor is 9×12.
Artist reception is January 5th, 6pm at Gallery 50 in Bridgeton, NJ. I am looking forward to seeing what everyone painted on this beautiful day! This painting has been sold.
Bullitt House Gardens watercolor for 2022 Plein Air Easton Quick Draw (Sold)
Who doesn’t love the Quick Draw event during Plein Air Easton. Yes, it is crazy hot, usually in the high 90s. But so worth it because the caliber of art is amazing. Hard to believe what can be accomplished in two hours. That means in a frame on your easel and ready to be sold.
The Bullitt House and gardens are a perfect subject and a lot of artists chose this locations. I can attest that no two paintings looked alike. Time is limited, but you are allowed to set up your easel ahead of time. You cannot put a mark on your canvas till you hear the start horn. The thumbnail is the only reason I can get through the event. It is a blueprint, a plan, gives you a bit of confidence before you start.
Lavender Fields was first painted en plein air. Don’t have to say what a gorgeous day it was to be outside painting even if it was in the 90s. I painted this scene again from memory during the artist reception at Perkins Center For The Arts in Collingswood, NJ. For the demo I added a couple figures and eliminated the Folly in the background. Both were 11×14. My plan is to paint a much larger version of the subject using these paintings as reference. I don’t want to work from photos as I will be tempted to get too tight. We’ll see how it goes.
Morning Star Daylilies Farm has so many flower varieties, making it hard to choose which one. I spent the morning on their farm with Salem County Art League members. The sketch is a bit looser than the finished piece. Tough subject. So nice that they invited us out to paint their gorgeous daylilies! This watercolor is 8×10 mounted on hardboard and spray varnished, available unframed.
I was not going to paint because there was too much going on in the same day, but I didn’t want to miss participating in this annual plein air event through Cumberland County.
The day was cooler, breezy, and no humidity, so I went for it with the mindset of blissfully painting in the little free time I had. If the painting was successful, great, if it was not, at least I was outside painting. The satisfaction of completing this watercolor felt great, no regrets, and I made it on time to my next commitment and could not have been happier.
This watercolor is available through Gallery 50 in Bridgeton, NJ.
“Fallen” watercolor by Yvonne Mucci (Available, 11×14)
“Fallen” watercolor was a quick afternoon painting session at Ashbridge Preserve for Land Art Events. The title felt like an appropriate nod to the pandemic. I really tried to paint loosely, lots of heavily loaded pigments on my brush, letting the watercolor flow to give a sense of what it felt like to be standing near the Brandywine Creek with all the lush greenery around me. This painting is available through www.landartevents.com in Gallery 9, or you can contact me directly. Size is 11×14 in a 16×20 frame.
“Along The Road” by Yvonne Mucci (Available 10.5×14, framed 16×20)
Artists, while driving, pass beautiful properties and farms thinking “oh, I’ve got to go back and paint that scene”. Along The Road was painted for Land Art Events. Happy Hollow Farm was so interesting with all those windows. You never see barns like that! Lots of locals waved, tooted their horns, and said hello while I was painting. This painting is available through Land Art Events. http://www.landartevents.com You can also contact me directly. The watercolor is 10.5 x 14, matted and framed 16 x 20.
Farm To Table Plein Air Show and Palette to Palate Event. The 2020 event has been rescheduled to October 22, 23, 24 2021 at Goshen Hill Farm in Malvern, PA. Events that serve to engage the public in conversations about art, land conservation and agricultural stewardship. Kathe Odom is juror of selection and John Brandon Sills will judge the plein air paintings. All work exhibited was created on private and public lands permanently protected by the Willistown Conservancy Trust.
“Cool Shadows” watercolor by Yvonne Mucci (13 x 17, sold)
This spring house sat in the shadows, down a hill from the barn and main house. Really tranquil day of painting en plein air. There are lots of spring houses to be found in the Brandywine Valley. Spring houses keep a constant temperature due to the spring water running through them. They kept animals and debris from your water source while extending the life of your provisions by keeping them cool.
This painting is available through Land Art Events in Gallery 7. http://www.landartevents.com You can also contact me directly.
Farm To Table Plein Air Show and Palette to Palate Event. The 2020 event has been rescheduled to October 22, 23, 24 2021 at Goshen Hill Farm in Malvern, PA. Events that serve to engage the public in conversations about art, land conservation and agricultural stewardship.
“Loving The Land” watercolor by Yvonne Mucci (6×8, sold)
Personally, it has been an extremely difficult year, so getting outside to paint was good for my mind and soul. One activity that is safe during Covid. This lovely scene was painted en plein air at Rushton Woods Farm Preserve for Land Art Events, Farm to Table Palette to Palate event. I chose the title “Loving The Land” because those working at this CSA truly do love the land. Watercolor is mounted on hardboard and finished with cold wax, making the surface look similar to an oil, no glass needed. Photo below shows it framed in a 6×8 plein air frame.
Yvonne Pecor Mucci 