While painting in Belize, Barrett McDevitt found himself in a situation that could make any artist lose focus.
“I didn’t realize it at the time, but where I set up was ground zero for cocktail hour with the local fishermen,” recalls McDevitt. “I was surrounded by a crowd of drunks raging at each other in Creole the entire time I worked. I consider the painting a success because of the level of distraction I faced — serious combat plein air! One of the guys passed out at my feet, using my backpack as a pillow. To their credit, they all wished me a good night and seemed to enjoy the painting.”
