Flint Hills - Field Trip

Here I am on the Prairie Hills of Kansas, on Saturday morning Sept. 9th.

Months ago, I was presented an opportunity to donate a painting of the Flint Hills to help support my friend Beth Carolan and her Pembroke School environmental art project. Soon the gallery that I exhibit in was involved and the project grew which involved this field trip out to the Flint Hills with a bunch of high school art kids/aspiring young artists along with some professional artist from the gallery including myself. In October 21st, the students and the artists will have a joint exhibition down by the Crossroad district. Even though it was during the day of my exhibition, it was an opportunity I couldn't refuse.

I started my journey at 8.30am Saturday morning. The overcast sky and the cool breeze made the trip quite pleasant. Along the shoulder, wild sunflowers were in bloom. I arrived at the Zbar Ranch around 10.30am. There were around 40 kids, half from Pembroke Hill and half from Paseo Art Academy. We all split up into groups and I had the honor and privilege to be in charge of the drawing class that had six amazingly talented, outgoing, funny, humble and bright students.

We wasted no time but to hike up the hill and started drawing the hills and land that stretched for hundreds and hundreds of miles ahead. We spent the rest of the time chatting about life, Art, school and etc.... Needless say, we had a blast. My goal for the day was to inspire them, encourage them and made sure they had enough references to produce an original artwork for the exhibition held next month. I am so excited to see their work.

Got home at 5.30pm and rushed to get ready for my opening reception at 6pm.