I can still picture it.  Bigfork, Montana, a beautiful cabin in the woods, family vacation, in one of the most picturesque parts of the United States I have ever had the privilege to visit.  We finally had a day to all just do our own thing(there were 13 of us) and I had brought my plein air painting set up along on the 30 hour trek from Iowa to Montana.  I was so excited to finally get to paint my surroundings while fully immersed in the beauty of the Montana woods. What a treat for me as an artist!

The easel was set up in the perfect spot. Not too far from our house, so I could glamp it up, yet be close to modern (facilities) if I needed to take a break. I love the outdoors, but the older I get, the less I enjoy roughing it! 

I had just gotten comfortable, and my vision was synced up with the view I wanted to capture.  I had photographed it, and began sketching it.  I was finally, after about 30 minutes of setup, and 30 minutes of fidgeting, starting to relax.

My breathing had slowed, my heart rate calmed down(the elevation changes were quite something to get used to for this Iowa native!) and I was getting into the zone.  The zone is that mental space where the whole world around you, aside from what you are focused on, begins to melt away.  It almost feels as if you are in a state of Zen, as if you are inside of your painting.  Your focus softens, and you are almost on autopilot, your creative side takes over, and the technical side of your brain that overthinks everything, finally turns off!  For an artist, it's a wonderful place to be!

Just a few minute into "the zone", I was interrupted by my husband, yelling down from the house's deck, about 50 feet up the hill from where I was set up.

"Marie!, Marie!" He yelled, trying to sound calm, "You should probably come up to the deck, there is a black bear coming down the hill behind you!"

Me, " Whatever!  You are so full of crap, and that's not funny!"

Tim, " I am not joking! You need to come to the deck now!"

We went back and forth for a few minutes.  To humor him, I reluctantly left "the zone" and climbed up to the deck...with my heart racing again from the climb.

Me, " Ok, where is this so called bear you speak of?" I hadn't even looked yet when I got up to climb to the deck.

As we looked out into the woods towards the path that was behind my easel, I followed that path with my eyes, about 100 feet uphill from my easel, and sure enough, there it was....A BLACK BEAR!  OMG.  MY HUSBAND WAS TELLING THE TRUTH!  A panic attack ensued!

Had I not left the easel when he told me to, I may have had a much less peaceful painting experience!  

From that moment on, I painted inside my van(the mobile art studio), with a can of bear spray at the ready!  You just never know what or who will sneak up behind you when you are in "the zone" during a plein air painting session. Painting outdoors is a wonderful sport, but it's always good to have at least one other set of eyes on the lookout for you!

My blood pressure still goes up every time I reminisce about that black bear in the Montana woods.  What is it about plein air painting?  The strangest things happen to me whenever I do, and I love the stories that come from each and every experience.  If you've made it this far, thanks for reading along, and consider ordering a print....I may need the money later for therapy from all these crazy experiences!

Best wishes to you

- Marie