Here is a special surprise right before New Year's!  I'm excited to share this Ridgewood Talks Podcast episode in which we talk about a variety of topics including art, travel, Monet and more!
 Huge thanks again to Jeanne from Ridgewood Walks and Gil from Ignite Creator Studios!  Happy New Year everyone!

  I am feeling really happy because I recently finished up a long-term woodworking project that is a gift for my young niece.  I can't share pictures yet because it's a Christmas surprise, but I feel a deep satisfaction and will share photos after the holiday.  But this reminded me that the satisfaction of completing long term projects is an incomparable feeling.
  I find this with books also.  Reading longer series like Poldark by Winston Graham was a deeper experience because of the length and time required.  And last year, I read Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky.  It's a fairly long book and it's deep writing that takes time to process; after finishing the book, I had this same satisfaction--so much so that I don't know if I'll ever read a book that powerful again.
  As a painter and teacher, I also feel this payoff when I complete a long-term painting (even though "finish" is a tricky term to use for a painting).  And my goal of bringing Eric En Plein Air to TV audiences has resulted in milestones that bring me this same feeling.  (I can't wait to share Season 1 which is looking like spring of 2026!)
   It's not novel to say that most things nowadays are here for a moment and then discarded.  I know part of this is by design to keep us buying and upgrading, but I feel this same expendable nature in conversations, relationships, news, art, writing and so much more.  In an age when faster is better, I also feel that modern people desperately want something real and truly satisfying.
​   The point that I'm making is that I cherish the difficulty, concentration required, ups & downs of a long-term project.  I've learned that the real things take time so I'll wait, tinker, re-write, go back, contemplate, be patient, get frustrated, try again and keep heading towards my distant goals (the farther the better!)

  It's been a little while, but I'm so excited to announce a new update for Season 1 of Eric En Plein Air!  We are very thankful for all of the support and the amazing people who have been a part of this journey.
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Read the full update here: https://www.ericenpleinair.com/blog/season-1-editing-update

  We had a great day today, filming at the historic and beautiful Lyndhurst in Tarrytown, NY.  Check out our latest BLOG POST at ericenpleinair.com to see behind-the-scenes photos and video clips!
  HUGE thanks again to the Lyndhurst team for welcoming us and sharing the wonderful history and information.  I can't wait to visit again in the future!