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!
“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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