Rained Out Paint Out

This was the result of my first Plein Air Paint Out, not exactly what I was expecting. It started out to be a beautiful sunny day at the Flowers of T.C. Steele paint out in Brown County. Jerry Points, Susan Mauck, and I had come together. For my first attempt, I set up my easel to paint the "Big House" amidst its blossoming garden. Unhappy with my painting, I decided to move on to a different spot with a clean canvas. I chose this view from below the house looking up from the woods. Just as I was beginning to put some thicker paint on my canvas it began to sprinkle, softly at first, but becoming more insistent. I packed up my things in a heavy downpour and headed back to the cars. When the time for judging was near, Jerry, Susan, and I set up our paintings alongside the others. The rain had let up, but not for good. Soon it was pouring again, and my painting began to show interesting orange speckles. People asked me with interest, how did I get that effect? I had to confess it was by accident. I started with an orange ground. Since there was so much "thin" paint still on the canvas, it came off with the rain. After an hour or so of heavy rain, this picture is all that was left. I hope to save some of it and re-post when it's finished.