Summer begs the artist in me to paint outside. Plein air painting demands an excursion of its own design. A stroll in local Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden on the 4th of July offered a surprise guard at the gate offering an amazing experience to stand just a few feet away from this magnificent baby eagle. It's invigorating to just wander with my artist's eye; remember that it's not all about the physicality of holding the brush and painting outdoors. A painter spends more time just looking.