We love to hear from the Plein Air Today community! The following is part of a series that spotlights an artist who loves painting outdoors. Today’s feature is on Lyudmila Tomova Clark, who is on the faculty of the Plein Air Convention & Expo, May 14-18, 2026, in The Ozarks! NEW: With the PACE Streaming Pass, you have access to all five stages of demonstrations and teachings (with 90 days of replays).
“A salt-laden breeze whipped through Port Salerno’s marina as I set up my easel, the clank of ropes hitting masts and the scent of the ocean surrounding me,” says Lyudmila Tomova Clark. “It was a blustery March afternoon during the Lighthouse ArtCenter’s Plein Air Festival. Most boats had stayed in, but just as I was about to pack up, a single, battered fishing vessel pulled in.
“The sunlight illuminated the bow, casting a warm glow over the fish containers. I moved in, eager to capture the scene. The crew, sunburned and weary, began unloading their catch. A woman, cigarette dangling from her lips, barked at them to hurry. ‘I got a cake to bake,’ she muttered.”
“Suddenly, the wind tugged at my setup, and my favorite brush slipped into the water. Before I could react, one of the fishermen hooked it out with a flick of his gaff. ‘Can’t paint without your weapon, huh?’ he grinned, handing it back with salt-streaked fingers.
“Planning gave way to instinct as I worked quickly, letting my brush mirror the energy around me — fish crates clattering, buyers gesturing, deals being made. When the dock quieted, I stepped back to look at my panel. The scene was alive, gritty, real — everything I love about painting fishermen … and the plein air experience.”
Connect with the artist at tomovafineart.com.
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Do you have a plein air story to share with the community? Email us at [email protected] with three images and captions, and a few sentences about your funny, inspirational, educational, or extreme plein air adventures!
Don’t miss your opportunity to create lifetime memories at the Plein Air Convention & Expo! All training sessions are indoors on giant, high-def screens, with plein air paint-outs in the afternoons. Beginners and pros feel right at home, so register at PleinAirConvention.com to join us. NEW: With the PACE Streaming Pass, you have access to all five stages of demonstrations and teachings (with 90 days of replays).
Browse more free articles here at OutdoorPainter.com
Blog post prepared for the web by Cherie Dawn Haas, Editor of Plein Air Today
