Daily Painting Practice- From Art Coma to Plein air - the story continues

So back to my tale of plein air painting in Corning Iowa. 

 Still day 1. 
 I am about to attempt a third painting in the same day. Not only that,  look at the size of my canvas. What a brave lad.
 Now, most of you  old pros at plein air may laugh at this accomplishment of doing three painting in one day. But let me remind you that this is Iowa... in July... bright sunlight...100 degrees ( well almost)  and I'm wearing shorts.... and sitting down.... 

So here's another don't to add to our list. Don't ever paint in the sun, sitting down, wearing shorts.  Why? Because when you sit down the shorts  inch up your leg. Now remember, I am coming out of an art coma  and my  titanium white legs are not used to being exposed to direct sunlight..... I know what you are thinking, where is the sunblock that, she who must not be named,  kindly told me to bring along?
 It's stuffed in my art bag.  I was too excited about starting this painting,  I forgot to put on the sunblock. ( if you are counting, I believe that this is mistake number 3 for the day) .

 My canvas is appropriately toned with a blazing hot orange. The sun was  was cooking my left knee and turning it the same color as the car.  At this point, I remembered the sun block, and got up to coat myself. So I stood, took off my glasses, and proceeded to  coat my face, arms and legs in white oily goo.

 By the time I got this far with the painting, I was having so much fun. I was on a roll, but so were the insects. 
 Another helpful hint...  people aren't the only ones who like to watch you paint....  I find insects also have a strange appreciation for plein air painting. (I mean an attraction for plein air painters).  So now, I had to get up again and coat my sun blocked skin with bug spray. 

I thought things were going well, especially when  a nice breeze blew across the field to cool me down, and possibly chase the bugs away....  If only my day ended there.

I  took this progress photo and put the painting back on the easel and sat down for the final touches of paint. No sooner did I sit down and load up my brush when the gentle breeze turned into a strong headwind that lifted the painting off the easel  .. I caught it with my shoulder.

Lets just say the tree didn't look the same any more.


 I decided to call it a day. I packed the car, turned it around and started driving away when I noticed  I had started driving without wearing my glasses. I pulled over, searched the car. No glasses. Drove back . Searched the area... still no glasses. Twenty minutes go by, now I am down on my oily, sun blocked coated, sun burnt knees , swatting flies and  looking for my  glasses in a bug infested field.... 

I never swear but that day I came close.   I decided on one more look in the back of the car... nothing. I closed the hatch and there perched on top of the roof of the car. Glasses.

and so ended my first day back .