Artist Kymberlee Stanley recently taught a four-day plein air painting camp for visiting Girl Scouts, at several locations around Catalina. The girls used pizza boxes as easels, with pill sorters as oil paint holders, as they moved around the island.
The girls were from Girl Scout Troop 70483 from Palos Verdes Peninsula. They are a multi-level troop of 20 girls, including Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors. They usually come to the island in June for various adventures, such as kayaking, camping, visiting the Wrigley Botanical Gardens, and activities such as the Catalina Aerial Adventure. This was the troops first foray into plein air painting.
“We are deeply grateful to Kymberlee, the Catalina Conservancy and the Catalina Island Museum for providing this unique collaborative experience for our Troop,” Troop leader Christine Schmitz said.
The week began with a basic oil painting course on a private deck along Whitley Avenue with a view of Avalon. They then moved about the island to try their new skills along Front Street and the Green Pier and Lifeguard tower, and of course, the Casino. At one point, the King Tides brought in a swell that doused the young painters with crashing wave. But they shook off the water and continued their quest.
They visited the interior and did paintings on the Whales Tail at Shark Harbor. Transportation and a naturalist discussion were provided by the Catalina Conservancy. They also did rubbings on the tiles on Wrigley Fountain and were given some history of the famous Catalina tiles.
The week culminated in an art show of the girls work, at the Catalina Island Museum of Art & History. Stanley expressed gratitude to the assistance of the Conservancy and museum, noting that the art show on the museum patio was particularly special for the troop.
“The girls painted a palette and signed it as a gift and thank you,” Stanley said.
Schmitz agreed that the show at the especially memorable for the girls. She said the response to their work from visitors brought tears of gratitude to some of the girls.
“I can’t think of a better keepsake to go home with than their own plein air paintings of this magical place,” Schmitz said.