The DCPAP is a group of artists that enjoy painting on location (plein air) in a manner based on direct observation of the landscape. The group provides an opportunity to meet other painters, to share ideas, locations, and to generally enjoy and promote the plein air painting experience. Group outings are scheduled from May through November and participation is free. Painters from beginners to professionals are welcome.
DCPAP Outing Coordinator:
Tom Gilbert
Email: tagilbet@gmail.com
Home Phone: 608-222-1745
Mobile Phone: 608-886-2133
DCPAP Blog Administrator:
Pat Wafer
Email: dgwafer@gmail.com
Home: 608 231-2773
Additional Information and Guidelines for Members
by Tom Gilbert
The following shares some thoughts and provides miscellaneous information about how the DCPAP group works. Newcomers to the group are especially encouraged to read this.
Tom Gilbert
Email: tagilbet@gmail.com
Home Phone: 608-222-1745
Mobile Phone: 608-886-2133
DCPAP Blog Administrator:
Pat Wafer
Email: dgwafer@gmail.com
Home: 608 231-2773
Additional Information and Guidelines for Members
by Tom Gilbert
The following shares some thoughts and provides miscellaneous information about how the DCPAP group works. Newcomers to the group are especially encouraged to read this.
There
are no membership fees to join DCPAP. Persons wishing to participate
just need to contact me and I will add their email address to the
group list. Information on outings is then provided via email.
I
started this group in 2012 by contacting a few painting friends and
posting notices in art stores and libraries. At first many of the
outings were sparsely attended and I wasn't sure about the group's
future. But in the last few years interest seems to be growing and
our email distribution list has grown to about 85 people. Many people
can't get out on a regular basis and last year the actual size of
painting groups was typically 6 to 8 people, which is a nice size
group.
An
Invitation to All
I
want to encourage everyone to come out to DCPAP outings regardless of
how well, or in what style you paint. Plein air painting can be quite
difficult at first, but it's difficult for practically everyone and
is nothing to be embarrassed about. My intent and hope is for the
DCPAP participants to just enjoy the outdoors, the painting process,
meeting other people, and supporting each other. We do not have
formal critiques or showings of paintings after an outing. But
members do share and learn from each other in more casual
interactions.
After
meeting many painters over the years I've discovered how varied
people are in what motivates them to paint and in their attitudes
about painting. Some are beginners and still uncertain as to how much
time and attention they want to give to painting. Others might be
called “hobbyists” in that they are often content (more or less)
with how they paint and focus more on just enjoying themselves. For
professionals and some others, painting is a more important part of
their life and who they are. These painters are often dedicated and
strive towards high standards.
These
differing motivations and attitudes can sometimes lead to conflicts
and misunderstandings between people. But what I've gradually come to
realize is that there is no one “right”, or better way to
approach painting. You can dedicate your life to it, or it may just
be a casual hobby. Either way is fine. And by understanding these
differences we can strive to be more tolerant and accepting of
everyone in the group.
Painting
Locations -
I'm quite familiar with most painting locations in the county, but
still, every year it seems like I find something new. So let me know
if you have a painting site suggestion. And If you own some nice
scenic farm or natural property, or know someone who does, and want
to host an outing, that would be great. And we do, on occasion, have
outings beyond the Dane County borders. It also seems like following
up a morning outing with a pot-luck is popular and if anyone
wants to do something like that please let me know.
Scheduling
Outings –
To schedule outings I'll send an email notice about a week or two
before the date. I might schedule a few dates all at once but I don't
intend to initially set up all the dates for the entire season. We
have always painted on weekdays, usually Tuesday, Wednesday, and
Thursday. We may schedule an occasional weekend outing.
Re-Scheduling
Outings -
Typically, I won't be trying to closely monitor the weather in order
to reschedule outing dates. Often one can find nice lighting effects
on the edges of stormy weather. But if the forecast is rather certain
for a steady rain then I may reschedule a date with short notice.
Replying
to Outing Notices -
When I send emails with notice of an outing you really don't need to
reply to me to let me know if you're coming or not. But, having said
that, it is sometimes nice to know who might show up, so if you are
planning to attend, and are inclined to reply, please do. I'll
appreciate it. And let's keep common email etiquette in mind …
think twice before using “reply to all”.
Outing
Logistics -
This is an informal group and, of course, there's no set rules to
follow, so if you want come to an outing early, or late, or set up in
some more remote location, that's fine. But at the same time, we
don't want people showing up at widely varying times, setting up in
completely separate spots, and then leaving whenever, such that we're
not really interacting as a group. So I want to encourage people to
try, when possible, to arrive at about the same time, maybe set up
closer together (depending on the site), and then get together after
painting. If it's a morning session, then possibly go out for lunch.
On
occasion I've had people tell me they came out to an outing but
couldn't find the other painters. When I send an email notice about
an outing I'll try to be very clear about a “primary meeting
area”and the “start time”. We do paint at some large parks with
multiple parking lots and it's possible to be in the wrong spot if
you don't pay careful attention to the meeting area description.
Also, if you don't see anyone, and it's past the meeting time, you
may want to search around a bit. And feel free to text or call me on
my mobile phone.
Explaining
my Short-Comings -
I do enjoy meeting other painters but I also enjoy painting and can
get quite absorbed in it. So, for me at least, it's sometimes hard to
paint and socialize at the same time. For example, the first half
hour of painting is typically critical, so once I start, I may not be
ready to greet another person who shows up a little later. So please
understand if I don't always seem to be the greatest host. I'm also
not so great at remembering names (I'm more likely to remember your
art work). I guess what I'm getting at is please try to not be too
easily offended by a goof like me.
I
do try to meet and talk to new persons coming out for the first time,
but trust that others at the outing would also make an effort to do
this. We need to have a group effort in making newcomers feel
welcome at outings. And the general difficulty of painting and
socializing at the same time is why I think it's important to get
together after painting for lunch or just general discussion.
Use
and Maintenance of the Email Distribution List –
We will use email more strictly as a way to communicate specifically
about the group outings. Other more general information will be
placed on the blog, plus we also have the calendar feature with the
painting dates on the blog. Members should feel free to use the group
email distribution list if you want to share an art related event or
show with the group. But, please, use it with discretion, and often
it may be better to post something on the blog rather than use email.
The
email distribution list now has about 85 names on it, and some on
that list rarely, or have never, come to an outing. So I want to
point out that you probably don’t need to be on the list, and could
just use the blog if you only want to keep track of the group in a
general way. So let me know if you want to be taken off the
distribution list. I’m certainly not trying to get rid of anyone, I
just want to keep the email list manageable and don’t want to be
sending unwanted junk emails to anyone.
DCPAP
Blog Postings–
Our blog address is: pleinairdaneco.blogspot.com.
As a sort of diary for our painting season it would nice to have at
least one posting for every outing. Anyone attending the outing is
welcome to post something. People typically post the painting they
worked on but one could also post a photo of the painting location or
of some painters in action. Or maybe just written comments on
something that happened would be of interest to the group.
Pat
Wafer is our blog contact person. If you would like to post your work online please email Pat at dgwafer@gmail.com
