PleinAireCottageArtists

Plein Aire Cottage Artists Mary Rose Holmes, Violetta Chandler and Helen Tilston painting en plein aire at Indian Rocks Beach, Florida.  Twenty seven years ago at Iindian Rocks Beach, Florida three painters who love to paint outdoor, en plein aire, met and their friendship began.   Violetta Chander, Mary Rose Holmes and Helen Tilston were enamoured and captivated by the beauty of the old fashioned seaside town of Indian Rocks Beach (where they resided)with her historic cottages, flora and fauna.  They took their French easels to the streets and painted the historical cottages many were being demolished without thought and large moders McMansions were being installed without regard for local planting.  Mary Rose Holmes felt, if uncontained, this could become The Great Wall of Florida  and pointed out that "if one cuts down a tree, one can plant another - but if you smash a cottage it is gone forever".  Local residents and those who live among us as visi...

  Helen Tilston painting en plein air at Indian Rocks Beach. I wish to take this opportunity to wish each of you a very Happy Christmas and every good wish in 2021. Every year, I donate three paintings to a charity.   One of the  charities that I have donated to over the years has been to Clearwater Free Clinic in Clearwater, Florida.  They provide health care to the uninsured.   Doctors and health care workers volunteer and they have very few payroll staff.   I was first asked to donate (which is an honour and one's work must be juried in) about fifteen years ago. The featured artist that year was Sophie Matisse the great grand-daughter of Henri Matisse.  (Pictured below) Mary Rose Holmes, Helen Tilston and Sophie Matisse Fast forward to five years later and we were asked to be the featured artists (my art partners Mary Rose Holmes and Violetta). My painting for this year is "A Mother's Love" painted, in Ireland, during lockdown. The Martini + Matisse...

Helen Tilston, St. Remy-de-Provence, France. Photo Michael Tilston I have just returned from Provence, France where my work took me to research painting and filming venues for  Save Our Cottages:  Artists with a cause, a documentary to be aired on PBS in 2018. Violetta Chandler and Mary Rose Holmes Painting and  at Indian Rocks Beach, Photo Tricia Priest Emmy Award winning documentary film-making team Lynn Marvin Dingfelder and Larry Wiezycki have been filming The Plein Aire Cottage Artists, Violetta Chandler, Mary Rose Holmes and Helen Tilston for the past several months at Indian Rocks Beach, Florida Violetta Chandler & mary Rose Holmes  Photo:  Helen Tilston The second part of the documentary is scheduled for filming in Provence at the beginning of June. We are going to be painting and walking in the footsteps of the fathers of Impressionism in Provence. We are thrilled that this documentary is going to film and will b...

Kinsale Ireland Photo Helen Tilston Where has summer gone? We thoroughly enjoyed the work involved in judging The Arts & Letters Club, Washington D.C. scholarship.    A challenging experience and we ere happy to call upon our previous experience of judging the Plein Air Paint Out in Tarpon Springs some years back. All three of us have been working on commissioned pieces this summer.   Additonally, we are painting furiously and  adding to our upcoming exhibition at Indian Rocks Beach in December.  Giving back to our community is important for us and this year the Plein Aire Cottage Artists are donating this painting by Mary Rose Holmes to the annual Octoberfest at Indian Rocks Beach, Florida Mary Rose Holmes painting at 8th Ave and Gulf Blvd. Indian Rocks Beach Mary Rose Holmes adds magic to painting in studio.   Violetta Chandler has generously agreed to donate a portrait to a worthy cause that provides health care to those wit...

Photo by Helen Tilston  The phone rang recently and the Speaker asked to speak to the three members of the Plein Aire Cottage Artists;  Violetta Chandler, Mary Rose Holmes and Helen Tilston. They declared that they have been following our artist journey and congratulated us on our work and recent commissioned pieces.   We listened cautiously.    It was then revealed that they had selected us to be the Judges of one of the most prestigious scholarships in the USA for 2016.   The scholarship is open to young artists across the entire country.   For the past month, we have been burning the mid-night oil and more than once saw the sunrise. Some of the pieces of art work submitted took our breath away.   It is at a time like this where we are so pleased to have three of us to collaborate.    We take this responsibility with the uttermost care and detail.   We bear in mind the amount of work and care put into each applicant's po...

Historic Yacht Basin, IRB, Fl. Original oil painted on canvas one panel by each artist:  Mary Rose, Violetta & Helen Tilston Hope everyone had a wonderful summer and that you are fully rested to take on the world of Autumn and Winter. The Plein Aire Cottage Artists have had one of their busiest and most successful Summer.  Pictured above is Violetta painting at Ballycotton, Co Cork,  Ireland, in June.    Ireland has welcomed our paintings.   One comment from an onlooker was "It looks like ye paint the sunlight in the painting" Mary Rose and Violetta adding magic to plein air paintings Four local newspapers covered our shows.  Cry Radio Station in Youghal invited Helen Tilston to Sixty Minutes for a one hour interview and a promise of a return visit prior to Christmas. Technical Asst. Reese Denehy at CRY Youghal Suzanne Dillon Radio Host at CRY Youghal Helen Tilston awaiting interview at CRY Station Youghal Pat...

A Mother's love, by Helen Tilston One of my favourite restaurants in Ireland is Aherne's, located in the Historic Walled port of Youghal (Old Town Walls, built in 12th century are still intact) is one of Ireland's Heritage Towns and is seeped in history.  Sir Walter Raleigh was Mayor of this town.  Myrtle Grove his home is worth visiting. When Katie Fitzgibbon, owner of Aherne's asked if we would exhibit our paintings in their dining room we were thrilled to be associated with this fine establishment. Coastal Living Series 19 is now at Aherne's. Should your travels take you to Ireland, Aherne's is a must.   Evening at Ballycotton by Violetta Summer's Dream by Mary Rose Holmes www.ahernes.net Open turf fires and warmest of  welcomes await you in this family run hotel in historic walled port of Youghal.  Rooms are comfortable and luxurious, decorated with antiques and original art work. Their famous seafood bar and restaurant special...

Mary Rose Holmes presents Award to Rebecca (Bama) Palmer, Owner of PJ Restaurant, IRB,.Photo;Phil Hanna Each year, for the past eight years,  the Plein Aire Cottage Artists and  Indian Rocks Beach Action 2000 present one business and one residence with the "PRESERVATION AWARD".  This year the winner for business is P.J's Restaurant & Oyster Bar.  The Owner Rebecca (Bama) Palmer pictured above accepting the Award from Plein Aire Cottage Artist, Mary Rose Holmes.   PJ's a long time business at Indian Rocks Beach found their lease was expiring and they then found an old building. They did a spectacular renovation. The  food is delicious and the service friendly and efficient. Mary Rose and GeorgeAnn Thompson accepting Award for the Brindley Family. Photo Phil Hanna The 2015 Residential Award was given to The Brindley Family.  This beautiful beach side home circa 1920 is elegantly and environmentally restored.   Accepting the award on ...

Mary Rose and Violetta at Indian Rocks Beach 2015 is already shaping up to be a very exciting year for Mary Rose Holmes, Violetta Chandler and Helen Tilston Helen at Indian Rocks Beach (photo credit Rossana Stroligo) Ireland has extended an invitation to us to exhibit "Coastal Living".   Our show will open in June 2015. Mary Rose at Indian Rocks Beach (photo credit:  Rossana Stroligo) Prior to the show we will be painting, on location, en plain air in Ireland.  Helen has been scouting Ireland for the past several months for vistas.    Paintings are being tagged, measured and selected.    We are also taking every moment to complete commissioned pieces prior to travelling to Europe.   A few of our patrons are planning to travel to Ireland for our art opening.   We are truly blessed. Coastal Cottages is ongoing at saltrockgrill.com

Plein Aire Cottage Artist Violetta paints in Sarasota Florida A sunny morning meeting in Sarasota, where we agreed to meet with Violetta (her hometown) and paint. The light and values have attracted Plein Aire Cottage Artist Helen Tilston We ran into some friends and following some diversions eventually found time to paint Plein Aire Cottage Artists Mary Rose Holmes and Violetta Downtown, Sarasota has seen some changes and is now vibrant and alive with many new stores, boutiques and restaurants.  It is certainly worth visiting and talk on the street is  "it is booming and is growing". Michael's on Main Street, Sarasota is our most recent gallery and we are thrilled to work with Gallery Curator, Kate Runyon whom we have the utmost respect.   She has incredible S.T.Y.L.E Kate Runyon.  She exudes style. Christie's At Indian Rocks Beach, Florida Christie's have opened a new office at Indian Rocks Beach, called  "Coastal Christie...