Inspiration is an elusive quality which any of us is capable of sharing with others. And Inspiration does not just come from a teacher, but from everyone! This is one of the reasons I enjoy teaching so much! While Plein Air painting at the Flores gardens last week, the first order of business is always to settle on the view that inspires you. With such an opulent garden, it is easy to be seduced by all the colors and flowers, but to really choose the perfect composition, Value Pattern is the most important quality. Palmer found a wonderful scene that had it all! The light flowed from the right, bathing the back of the garden in a warm light but the front of the scene remained in shadow. Further the shape of the box woods and path lead you into the scene and the shape of the urn silhouetted by the dark tree behind made for a perfect focal point. WOW! Way to go Palmer! On Tuesday, Joann painted the same scene from a slightly different angle and on Wednesday I was inspired by the two of them to give it a try as well. It is not a surprise that most advancements in art are developed in a School of Painting. The collective inspiration of the group is contagious!