“While teaching a workshop in Maine one September, I decided to do a nocturne demonstration for the group,” says California artist Tim Horn. “I arrived early and parked my rental car with the headlights shining on the wall of an old white building, which had been a church many years ago.
“My class and I chatted amiably as I worked, but we’d had a full day, and after about an hour the painters had seen enough and began walking back to their rooms. I took the painting as far as I could on location, then I packed up my gear and loaded it into the trunk of my car.
“When I turned the key to start the engine … nothing. Leaving the lights on for so long had drained the battery. It was around 9 p.m., my students had all gone home, and the neighborhood was empty and quiet. I locked the car and walked the half mile back to where I was staying. The next morning, one of the painters in the group with a set of jumper cables got me back up and running. ‘Over the Edge’ ended up being one of my favorite paintings from my month in Maine, and was well worth the long walk home in the dark.”
Connect with Tim Horn at www.timhornart.com.
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Blog post prepared for the web by Cherie Dawn Haas, Editor of Plein Air Today
