My Working Vacation

I sometimes have to pinch myself when I realize how lucky I am to be painting in such beautiful locations. Last week I pinched myself several times on the beach in St. Thomas USVI. I sat at a picnic bench under some sea grape trees and painted plein air. The scene that captured my eye was the meandering branches of a tree that partially framed my view of the left side of Magen’s Bay. The lush green trees on the mountainside sloped down to the rocks at the shoreline. Houses overlooking the bay dotted the mountainside.

This beach is probably the most famous in the Caribbean. And, I have been fortunate to visit it quite a few times. This was a “working” vacation, as are most of my vacations. I never go on vacation without taking my paints, brushes and a few canvas panels. I find that traveling with acrylic paints is far easier than carrying oils and solvents; first, from an airport security standpoint and second from an easy water clean-up situation.

This 11”x14” acrylic plein air on canvas board, entitled Tree at Magen’s Bay, was a joy to paint.

And, when I get done working for the day, I can cool off in the clear, turquoise water of Magen’s Bay. Not a bad office.

 

 

I hope that your week is a great one,

Alan