Bluebells at Bull Run Regional Park

I've already walked the Bluebell Trail this year, like I try to do every year, at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, VA. This is one of the largest continuous tracts of wild Virginia Bluebells on the East Coast, and I'm so thrilled that I live so close to them. When I walked the 1 1/2 mile-long Bluebell Trail this past Saturday, I could tell that they were not quite at their peak. It was pretty crowded, being a Saturday, so I hoped to return during the coming week when the bluebells would be at their peak bloom and it might not be so crowded. Today I made it back, with my painting gear. 

I've done a lot of plein air (on-site landscape painting) and so have it down to a manageable amount of gear. I use a Daytripper easel, which consists of a "mast" that clips on to a normal photography tripod and holds a canvas or flat panel, and a lightweight palette which hangs on to the tripod. The palette fits into my small backpack and the mast slips into the tripod bag. I use a compartmented box (Box N Paint) with an airtight lid, into which I squeeze out my colors, so I don't have to carry all my tubes of paint, saving a lot of weight in my backpack. I also have a ziploc bag with my palette cups for Gamsol and linseed oil (which are in small bottles in my backpack), a couple of palette knives, and a ViewCatcher. Also a lot of paper towels, and a canister of Wet Ones (great for cleaning oil paint off your hands or gloves). And very important, an empty plastic bag for my used paper towels. I also carry a PanelPak, to carry my wet painting out. I have several PanelPaks in different sizes. Today I decided to work 12 X 16 on a Senso linen panel, which is clear primed to show the natural linen color - a good mid-tone to paint on. Smaller sizes will fit right in my backpack, but this one was a little too big, so I carried it - it's very light.

My husband came along for company, bringing his own chair, and we set out on the trail. After walking about 1/4 mile from the parking lot, we got to the Bluebell trail, which follows Bull Run. There are some stretches of boardwalk, but otherwise the trail is just dirt, (and mud,) with lots of tree roots and stones, so it's important to wear good boots and watch where you walk. Bluebells coat the floor of the woods on both sides of the stream (the far side is Prince William County, our side is Fairfax County.) There are many gorgeous views, but not many places to set up a tripod or easel that will be out the path. You should stay on the trail, and you also have to be very careful not to step on or crush any of the bluebells. We finally found a spot where I liked the view and we would be out of the way without hurting any bluebells, so that's where I painted, after a one-mile walk.

I painted for two hours. I didn't bring my umbrella, and the sun soon swung around and raked across my painting, but I just ignored it and did the best I could. Here's my painting, and a photo of the view.

I don't consider this a great painting, but it was nice being out there and giving it a go. A camera cannot capture the color of the bluebells. If you live anywhere near Bull Run Regional Park, I highly recommend you get yourself over there in the next week to walk the Bluebell Trail and experience this brief, wonderful phenomenon for yourself!

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