As a child, I remember walking to the community swimming pool during the heat of the summer vacation. The long summer months stretched out ahead of me and I was overwhelmed with joy for my new found freedom. I always passed through a field where a honeysuckle vine had taken hold. I loved the smell and listening to the buzz of the busy bees as they drank the sweet nectar from the flowers.

      That is the reason I replaced the exhausted grapevine with a honeysuckle a few years ago at the corner of my guest house. I have watched as the hearty vine has thrived, even when it's weight brought down the supporting trellis.

      I thought it appropriate to paint this familiar view before heading out to participate in the 2009 San Clemente Plein Air Competition. The June gloom has finally lifted, so the event holds the promise of many wonderful opportunities to capture the beauty around San Clemente. I am looking forward to talking with my fellow artists, meeting the festival attendees and painting, painting, painting.

       I will be posting blogs as I paint from San Clemente and you can see all Sharon's plein air paintings at my website, Sharon Weaver.com