66.  Original Plein Air Watercolor Painting, “Plein Air, 4:05-5:35pm, Umbrellas at 3 Horse Ranch Vineyards, 10.6.24”, watercolor, 22 x 30”, 2024

Location: Eagle, ID

Event: Eagle Plein Air

Event Awards: Best New Artist, Two Blue Ribbons, Best Water, 2nd Place Nocturne

I was still recovering from staying up too late the night before making “Plein Air, 8:35-10:35pm, Outside 13th St Pub, 10.5.24”, and hadn’t made anything even by 4pm. I saw a puggle (a pug/beagle mix) strutting by, and asked the owner to give him some attention (rubs). They were fine with it, so we chatted a bit, all the while squeezing the puggle in pleasing ways (I had a pug growing up), until he eventually sat down on my foot. “He likes you.” the owner said. After the puggle and owner were gone, I began this work, in a much better mood than earlier, all credit owed to the puggle and its lovely owner. Thank you. Thank you also to the other artists and interested parties who were my informal audience for narrating (by request) the process of making this work in real time. Thank you also to 3 Horse Ranch for hosting (again) the Plein Air Eagle group.