Plein air teaching demo in Rhode Island

I am a plein air painter and art teacher with a focus on expressionist watercolors and oils, and teach studio and plein air painting year round. I am a member of the Noank 9 plein air painting group, an elected artist at the Mystic Museum of Art, and was co-chair of the New England Watercolor Society Brushes with Nature plein air painting program.

I studied with British watercolorist Ron Ranson, with Howard Park at the Mystic Museum of Art, Bob Noreika at the Lyme Art Association, and local art instructors at Granite Street Gallery. A significant influence on my painting was my grandmother Lucille, who was an illustrator, watercolorist, and a WPA artist. 

Artist’s statement

In my plein air painting I am seeking to convey something deeper about the land, sea and sky than meets the eye, something that is under the surface but visible only when we slow down to look, uncovering what is beautiful in the seemingly ordinary.

Juried Shows, Awards and Galleries:

2023 New England Regional Exhibition, New England Watercolor Society, “In the Shade of a leaf” Winner of Ruth Wynn Memorial Award, Rhode Island Watercolor Society, Slater Memorial Park, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Oct 4- Nov 2, 2023.

Art in Common, Mystic Museum of Art, “What is the Color of Hope?”, Honorable Mention Award, Mystic, CT, Oct. 27 - Dec. 17, 2023

Bon Appetit, Lyme Art Association, Life is Not Still, Old Lyme CT, Sept 29- - Nov 7.2023.

New England Landscape, Lyme Art Association, , Path to the Beach Houses, Old Lyme CT, Sept 29- - Nov 7. 2023.

Best of Mystic, Providence Art Club, “Something about Time,” Providence, Rhode Island, August 6 -25, 2023.

Expanding Visions, Lyme Art Association. “Her Table”, “Where Memories Grow,” June 23- July 15, 2023, Old Lyme, CT.

Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts. 112th Annual show, “Her Aquarium,” June 10- July 22, 2023, Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, Old Lyme, CT.

Arnould Gallery Plein Air Painters Show, Spring Paintout. May 24-26, show through July. Plein air paintout out featuring New England Artists.

Garde Arts Show, Sponsored by Thames River Gallery, show featuring 6 artists paintings throughout the historic theater. New London, Ct. June- July 2023

Stillness, Lyme Art Association. “Searching for Light,” “Moms Beanpot”. Marxh 11 -April 27, 2023.

Members and Elected Artists Show, Mystic Museum of Art, In the Shade of a leaf. Feb March 7, 2023.

First Impressions, Lyme Art Association, Old Lyme, CT. “Fishermen, Watch Hill,” Morgan Point Light,” ” Morning Fisherman,” , ” South Beach Light.” Jan 13 - March 2, 2023

The Seasons of Stone Acres, Plein air show at Manor House, Stone Acres Farm, Stonington, CT. Paintings completed on location at Stone Acres Farm during the spring summer and fall. Dec. 6 - Dec. 31.

Deck the Walls. Lyme Art Association, “The Lighthouse Keeper, Watch Hill,” “Barn Island,” “In the Shade of a Leaf.”, Nov 18- Jan 1 ,2023

The Poetry of Art: Thames River Gallery, New London, CT 10 artist multi -media show. Opening November 5, 4-7:00.

Brushes with Nature, New England Watercolor Society. “Stone Acres Barn,” “Marty’s Model T, Mystic Seaport,” “The Fish Shack, Mystic Seaport.”Award of Merit . Nov. 7

Building Bridges, Mystic Museum of Art, Mystic, CT. “When Hummingbirds Swim with Whales.” “The Weight of Light,” Winner - 2nd Place in show; Oct. 7 - Dec. 18.

New England Landscape, Lyme Art Association, Old Lyme CT. “Mystic River,” “The Farmhouse, Stone Acres.” Sept 30 - Nov 10, 2022.

True Blue, Lyme Art Association. Old Lyme, CT. “The Blue Vase,” “Reflections, Watch Hill.” August 12- Sept 22.

Artists’ Choice, Rhode Island Watercolor Society, National open juried show, Pawucket , Rhode Island. Searching for Light, the Sky is made of Water. Aug 6- Sept 9, 2022.

Anything Goes, Wickford Art Association, Wickford, Rhode Island, “The Weight of Light,”, “Next Steps”. Aug 5-Aug 28, 2022.

Eye of the Beholder, 7 artist landscape show at Thames River Gallery, New London, CT. June 18- August. (Afternoon, Heading out New London Harbor, View of the Bay, May Morning - Plein Air, North Light )

Arnould Gallery Plein Air Painters 2022 Spring Paint Out, Marblehead, MA Arnould Gallery. May 25-27, 2022. (View of Children’s Island, Fisherman’s Shanty’s, Gerry Island, Barlett’s Garage).

Objets Trouves Gallery, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Abstract expressionist watercolors, “Ancestors,'“ “Where Hummingbirds Swim,” “Travelling,” “Within,” “The Guitar,” “Flight”, “the Hearth”, “Submerging,” “Circumstance,” “Her Bicycle.

Tell Us a Story, Bryan Memorial Gallery, Jeffersonville, VT. May 5 - June 19. (Winter’s Waiting, Spring’s Journey, Fall’s Light).

Expanding Visions, Lyme Art Association, Old Lyme, CT. April 15- June 2 (Morning, Morgan Point Light.)

An Exhibition in Four Acts, Lyme Art Association, Old Lyme, CT, Feb - April 15. (“Next Steps,” “March Light,” “First Outing, Fisher’s Island,” Afternoon, High Street, Oxford”)

Associate Members Show, New England Watercolor Society, Plymouth Center for the Arts, Plymouth, MA, March 4 - April 27 (“Afternoon, Class Demo”).

First Impressions, Lyme Art Association. Old Lyme, CT. Jan 14 - Feb. 24. (“New London Light,” “Via Emilia,” “Wall Street Light,” “Stone Acres Farm”)

Instructors Show, New England Watercolor Society, Plymouth Center for the Arts, Plymouth, MA. Jan. 7 - March 2. (“Returning,” “Grandma’s Soup”)

Deck the Walls, Lyme Art Association, Old Lyme, CT. Nov. 20 - Jan 2. (“March Afternoon,” “Clearing,” “Reflection”)

Brushes with Nature, New England Watercolor Society, Plymouth Center for the Arts, Plymouth, MA. Nov 5 -Jan. 5. (The Blacksmith’s Shop, Mystic Seaport, Mystic Candy Shop, Jone’s Boat Yard, plein air show).

Points of View, Thames River Gallery, New London CT. Show featuring 3 artists painting Oil, Watercolor and Acrylics. Oct. 30 -Present.

Transformation, Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts, Oct. 16 - Nov. 27 (“Natures’s Hand”).

Flourish, Mystic Museum of Art, Oct. 1 - Dec. 19., 2021 “How the World Opened.” Winner of Pamela J. Nelson Watercolor Award.

Hello Yellow, Lyme Art Association, Sept. 24-Nov. 11 (“What he Carried”).

Let Us Introduce You: 5 person show featuring artists new to the gallery. Bryan Memorial Gallery. Jeffersonville, VT Sept 9 - November 7. (“Reflection,” “Cove at Dusk,” “Evening Rise,” “Late Day Return,” “The Sparrow,” “Clearing".”)

Oil and Water: Landscapes and Seascapes in Oil (Howard Park) and Watercolor (Lisa Miceli). Avondale Arts, Avondale, Rhode Island. August 12 - Sept. 8.

A Century of Inspiration. Lyme Art Association, July 30- Sept 16 (“Light Air Afternoon”)

Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts, 110th Annual Exhibition, June 26-August 14 (“What he Carried”)

Marblehead Spring Paint Out, Arnould Gallery, Marblehead, MA, May 27-28,2021 (“Brown’s Little Harbor” and “View from Fort Beach”)

Ship to Shore: A Marine Show . Lyme Art Association. May 21 - July 22, 2021. (“Marsh at Saltwater Farm Vineyard”).

Hands on the Land: Art & the Environment in the CT River Valley. Connecticut River Museum. March 18 - October 10, and Lyme Art Association Nov 19-Jan 2. (“Undercurrent”)

Expanding Visions: Traditional and Beyond. Lyme Art Association. March 19- May 13. (“South Beach, Fisher’s Island”).

Works by Associate Members, New England Watercolor Society. Plymouth Center for the Arts. March 5 - April 28. (“Barn Island”)

First Impressions, Associate Artists Show, Lyme Art Association. January 15- March 11. (“Angel Food,” “The Weight of Light,” “Through the Curtains,” “Winter.”)

Instructors Show, New England Watercolor Society, Plymouth Center for the Arts, Jan. 8- March 3, 2021 (“What he Waited For,” “Through the Curtains,” “Shouldering Through.”).

2020 Juried Members Exhibition, Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society, Dec. 10- Feb. 28 (“Walker’s Cove,“ “Stonington Meadows,” “Spring Afternoon, Barn Island,” “October Meadow”)

Deck the Walls, Lyme Art Association, Nov. 27- Jan 7 (“Morning Light,” “Returning, Jones’ Boat Yard”).

New England Watercolor Society North American Open Juried Exhibition. Plymouth Center for the Arts, Nov1 - Dec 5 (“What He Carried”).

Brushes With Nature. New England Watercolor Society, Plein Air Watercolor show, Plymouth Center for the Arts, Nov. 13 - Jan. 6 (“South Beach, Fisher’s Island,” September, Jones’ Boat Yard”)

Land and Sea. Lyme Art Association, October 9- November 19. (“Rain at Ninigret Park”).

Animal Kingdom. Lyme Art Association, August 21-Ocotber 1 (“I am Real,” “Am I Real?”, “Really”)

Wind, Waves and Water: A Marine Show. Lyme Art Association, June 26-August 14. (“Mansion Beach, Block Island).

Yin and Yang, Realism and Abstraction. Lyme Art Association, March 6- April 17, 2020. View exhibit on-line at Lymeartassociation.org. (“Opening” and “Time”)

On the Horizon: Land, Sea and Sky: Solo watercolor show at Studio 33 Art and Frame Gallery, New London, Jan 25- June 25, 2020”

Winner: Mystic Seaport Museum Watercolor Competition inspired by J.M.W. Turner, Thompson Exhibition Center, Mystic Seaport. Dec- 2019 - Feb 2020 (“New London Harbor Light”),

Deck the Walls, Lyme Art Association, Nov. 26- Jan 3 (“Seaport Marine,” and “Bright Acres Farm, Noank”)

New England Landscape Exhibition, Lyme Art Association Sept 27- Nov 15 (“Father’s Day, Jones’ Boat Yard”)

63rd Regional Artists Exhibition, Mystic Museum of Art. Aug 23- Oct 5 (“Before the Storm, Jones Boat Yard” and “Eastern Point”)

Avondale Arts, Howard Park’s Student Show

Denison Homestead Show

Mystic Museum of Art Member’s Show, 2019, 2020

Awards:

Art in Common, Mystic Museum of Art, “What is the Color of Hope?”, Honorable Mention Award, Mystic, CT, Oct. 27 - Dec. 17, 2023

2023 New England Regional Exhibition, New England Watercolor Society, “In the Shade of a leaf” Winner of Ruth Wynn Memorial Award, Rhode Island Watercolor Society, Slater Memorial Park, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Oct 4- Nov 2, 2023.

2nd place award, Mystic, Building Bridges show, Museum of Art, “ Weight of Light” October, 2022

Award of Merit, Brushes with Nature, Plein Air show, New England Watercolor Society. “The Fish Shack, Mystic Seaport.” October, 2022

Winner of Pamela J. Nelson Watercolor Award. Flourish, Mystic Museum of Art, Oct. 1 - Dec. 19. (“How the World Opened.”)


Winner: Mystic Seaport Museum J.M.W. Turner Watercolor Competition, Thompson Exhibition Center, Mystic Seaport. Dec- 2019 - Feb 2020 (“New London Harbor Light”),

Galleries:

1515 Lincoln Gallery, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; New England Watercolor Society at Plymouth Center for the Arts, Plymouth, MA; Gene Arnould Gallery, Marblehead, MA; Bryan Memorial Gallery, Jeffersonville, VT; Avondale Arts, Avondale, Rhode Island, Rhode Island Watercolor Society, Pawtucket, RI, Wickford Art Assocation, Wickford, RI; Lyme Art Association, Old Lyme, CT; Mystic Museum of Art, Mystic, CT; Thames River Gallery, New London, CT; Studio 33, New London, CT; Garde Arts Theater, New London, CT.

Teaching Experience:

Plein air Palette Knife Painting Workshop, Lyme Art Association. Plein air workshop on the grounds of the historic Florence Griswold Museum in old Lyme, CT. June 23-24, 2023.

Colorist Landscape; Class to help students use a colorist approach to landscape painting. Lyme Art Association, March 6 - April 10, Mystic Museum of Art, March 7 - April 11.

Stick and Ink Workshop. Workshop to help students learn to paint with more freedom using using ink and watercolor techniques. Lyme Art Associaion, March 18, 2023

Palette Knife Workshop. Workshop to help students learn palette knife painting techniques. Lyme Art Association, Feb 11, 2023.

Speedpainting Seascapes, Class to help students paint seascapes with more freedom, and emphasis on loose expressive watercolor techniques. Lyme Art Association, Jan 9 - Feb 13. and Mystic Museum of art Jan 10 - Feb 7.

SpeedPainting Still Life Workshop, Workshop to help students paint with more freedom and with focus on simplifying a still-life. Hamden Art League, Dec. 4, 2022

Expressive Skies in Watercolor, Demo, Hamden Art League, Hamden CT. Nov 9,2022.

SpeedPainting Still Life Workshop, Workshop to help students paint with more freedom and with focus on simplifying a still-life. Lyme Art Asssociation, October 15, 2022

Expressive Skies in Oil and Watercolor, Lyme Art Association, Old Lyme, CT. Sept 10- Oct. 17, 2022. Mystic Museum of Art, Mystic CT, October 4 - Nov1.

Plein Air Teaching: Avondale Arts: May 2022 - Present; Weekly classes on Fridays.

Color is Magic: Composition Color and Creativity, Lyme Art Association, Old Lyme, CT, March 28- May 2, Mystic Museum of Art, March 29 - May 2.

Plein Air en Studio in Oil and Watercolor, Mystic Museum of Art, Mystic, CT, Feb 9 - March 16, 2022.

SpeedPainting Workshop, Workshop to help students paint with more freedom and with focus on simplifying a still-life. Mystic Museum of Art, Mystic, CT. March 5-6, 2022

Composition Color and Creativity, afternoon and evening classes, Lyme Art Association, Old Lyme, CT, Jan 10 - Feb 21, 2022,

Stick and Ink Watercolor Workshop, Mystic Museum of Art, Mystic, CT, Nov. 13 and 14, 2021.

Composition, Color and Creativity, Mystic Museum of Art, October 13, Lyme Art Association, Sept 13 - Oct 18, 2021,

Oil and Water Landscape in Studio with Howard Park, Lyme Art Association, Sept .13 - Oct. 13.

Oil and Water workshop at Fisher’s Island Community Center. Sept. 21-23.

Avondale Arts, Plein Air Classes in Oil and Water, Weekly classes, June 25- August, 2021

Oil and Water Workshop: Full day watercolor and oil painting workshop at Haley farm, June 13, 2021.

Oil and Water Workshop: Two Day plein air workshop for Lyme Art Association at Florence Griswold Museum grounds. May 22-23, 2021.

Land, Sea and Sky. Two day workshop at Mystic Museum of Art. May 15-16.

Color, Composition and Creativity. Mystic Museum of Art. April 28 - May 26.

Plein Air En Studio (in Oil and Watercolor) with Howard Park. Mystic Museum of Art: Jan. 27-Feb. 24, 2021.

Abstracting Reality (in oil and watercolor) with Howard Park. Mystic Museum of Art: March 10-April 7.

Color and Composition in Oil and Watercolor: Co-taught workshop with Howard Park at Fisher’s Island Community Center, March 12-13, July 13-16, August 24-27

Oil and Water: Plein Air Workshops co taught with Howard Park: Haley Farm, Groton; Jones’ Boat Yard, West Mystic; Bright Acres Farm, Noank, Denison Homestead


Volunteer work

Co-chair of the New England Watercolor Society Brushes with Nature plein air painting program, Nov 2020- Present.

Watercolor Demo, Expressive Skies. Lyme Art Association. August 20, 2022.

Art in Waterford, 2021, Plein air painting to support event for Waterford Historical Society, August 14, 2021.

Co-host of NEWs paint out at Stone Acres Farm, Stonington CT, July 17, 2021.

Co host of NEWs paint out at Mystic Seaport, Sept. 18-19, 2021.

Host of Lyme Art Association paint out, Florence Griswold museum grounds, June 12, 2021

Volunteer at Mystic Museum of Art, visitor services, data entry, exhibition assistance, Featured in MMoA Artists Share at mysticmuseumofart.org

To contact me, please email lmiceliart@gmail.com.

Plein air painting demo at Mystic Seaport in conjunction with “Sailor Made” Sept. 13, 2021.

OIL and WATER PLEIN AIR WORKSHOPS:

Howard Park - Oil Painting

Lisa Miceli - Watercolor

LEARN TO PAINT ON LOCATION : This Dueling Plein Air Workshop is taught by two artists, Howard Park and Lisa Miceli, painting the same scene to give the students a comprehensive understanding of both mediums, oil and watercolor, and guidance about how and why to choose a particular scene to paint. Work on at least one painting from start to finish with guided instruction. 

Dueling Demos: Our styles and mediums are different, oil and water, so pick your favorite painter and encourage them while distracting the other! 

STRUCTURE OF WORKSHOP 

Day 1 ~ 9:00 AM Dueling Demos Lisa and Howard will each paint a demo side by side in the morning, so that all of you will be able to see how we individually approach laying in a landscape as well as answer questions as we paint. We have learned a lot from watching other artists work and think it will be helpful. After the demo, we will help you set up, take a break for lunch then each of you will work on your own paintings with instruction as we go. 

Day 2 ~ 9:00 AM Either finish your painting from Day 1, paint small studies, or start another painting. We can do dueling demos if there is time. After lunch, you will work on your paintings and this can be where you really start to see real progress. We will give tips and techniques to help you improve composition and value and to create paintings that capture the atmosphere of the scene. At the end of the day, we will have a critique where will look at all your work and discuss what you have accomplished. Painting Landscapes in this way, over two days, will help you to produce your best work to date and you may find that you complete 2 or 3 new paintings. 

WORKSHOP DATES Weekends Saturday and Sunday TBD

LOCATIONS: Various areas surrounding Mystic, Connecticut *For non-painters accompanying you, there are many interesting places to visit while you paint your hearts away! COST $100.00 per day. This includes: Demos and instruction as you paint for 2 days. * We also have a limited number of plein air set-ups for rent. If you have any questions, please contact oilandwaterpleinair@gmail.com. 














Plein Air painting at Saltwater Farm Vineyards in Stonington