Cochise County Plein Air Painters Portal Paint Out

Shown here left to right: Kaia Thomas, Don Dean, Clement Scott, Lili Laurin, Cynthia Rosen and Glenn Renell.
 Not shown: Harry & Linda Stacy, Susan Akridge and Sarah Thomson.


Back in February I created a Facebook group called the Cochise County Plein Air Painters. My intention was to provide artists and art lovers in our area, along with artists who enjoy painting and exploring in our area, a place to come together and share art, photos, paint out opportunities, pretty much anything related to our beautiful Cochise County and painting outdoors. After inviting those who I thought would appreciate the group, it quickly sprang to life with enthusiasm - paintings and photos of loved locations were shared, and an interest in Portal, Arizona arose. In a very short amount of time a paint out had been planned and reservations were made for the first weekend of April to paint in Portal! 







 Located on the extreme eastern edge of Cochise County, only a few miles from the New Mexico border, Portal is a magical, removed town, where you will find those who live in this tiny community very interesting, if not eccentric. The locals are friendly and have many tales to tell. Locals might consist of retired professors, birders, researchers, city deserters, but most of all nature lovers. One glance into the canyon view and you are hooked. Upon departure you will experience Portal withdrawals... 



 Painting at Vista Point

Perhaps the reason that you haven't heard of Portal, and it isn't being overrun with people, could be that it's not an easy location to get to, or perhaps it's the simple fact that there are no services, like gas, groceries or even cell service. However,  none of these things deterred us devoted plein air painters from showing up...The weather made an attempt to stop us from going, but to no avail! We painted Portal, and it was amazing!!



Cynthia Rosen and Lili Laurin 


Glenn Renell

View near the Visitor Center

 
Clement Scott





 Don Dean


There were 10 of us who painted, some traveled all the way from Phoenix area, which was a very long haul! Some of us camped in the campgrounds, others stayed in nearby lodges, all agreed it was a great time, and many noises were made to return!
 Anyone interested in the facebook group to participate and stay informed of future paint outs or events in Cochise County, here is the link...




 Here are a couple of my paintings from the Portal experience...

 
"Beacon" 6x7 in. oil on hardboard (available) 


"Vista Point" 9x12 in. oil on linen (available)


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