Season 1 continues as we visit Van Vleck House & Gardens in Montclair, NJ.  This is one of my favorite gardens and it was great to learn about the positive contributions of the Montclair Foundation.  My painting demonstration covers watercolor and gouache techniques as I paint a beautiful, running fountain.

Watch here:
https://www.pbs.org/video/van-vleck-house-gardens-montclair-nj-e1tc3l/

  We so happy to announce that our Season 1 premiere of Eric En Plein Air is now available to watch on the PBS app and website! (Air times on local PBS stations are also being scheduled).
  Our premiere episode is all about Lyndhurst in Tarrytown, NY.  I hope you all enjoy the program and I want to thank everyone who supported this project.  We couldn't have done it without you.

https://www.pbs.org/video/lyndhurst-tarrytown-ny-frlmv7/

  Filming for Season 2 continued today at Boscobel House & Gardens in Garrison, NY.  This was a location that I’ve been wanting to visit for years and it was a fascinating place to learn about.  And painting their view of the Hudson Valley was breathtaking!
  Thank you so much to the team at Boscobel and especially to my amazing guest, Abigail Addams for sharing this history with us!

  Filming for Season 2 has begun at the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms in Morris Plains, NJ!  I demonstrated a full watercolor and gouache lesson and met with Samuel Calabrese, the museum’s Member & Visitor Services Coordinator and Executive Director, Dr. Jonathan Clancy.
   This was actually my first time at the Stickley Museum, but I have been a long-time fan of Stickley furniture and designs.  It was so much fun to explore the grounds and to see the furniture in person; I definitely recommend taking a tour if you're in the area!  

  Happy Memorial Day!  Here's a quick update as we prepare for Season 2!  Scripts have been written and I'm gathering my art supplies as we prepare to film this week at our first location - The Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms in Morris Plains, NJ.  
  And for Season 1 - we have only about a week left until you'll be able to watch our premiere episode!  Exact air dates and times vary depending on your local PBS station so please check your local listing for updates.  Don't forget: you'll be able to stream Eric En Plein Air on the PBS App and website! ↓see below↓

  

  Airing in early June, viewers will be able to watch Eric En Plein Air on DIRECTV via PBS!  We can't wait for everyone to watch Season 1 on a variety of stations and streaming services!

  I'm back home from the South of France after an amazing week of teaching for Paint Away Tours!  Our tours are full of awesome locations, fun excursions, great food and a lot of one-on-one instruction with me.
  I hope you enjoy a few photos from this trip and if you'd like to join an upcoming tour - please visit our WORKSHOP PAGE!

  Thank you SO MUCH to the amazing team at Plein Air Easton for having me on their podcast!  Below is a YouTube version of the podcast or you can listen to the episode here: https://pleinaireaston.com/podcast/monets-garden

"Go behind the easel with celebrated painter and educator Eric Santoli on the latest episode of the Plein Air Easton Podcast. Hosts Tim and Marie sit down with Eric for a lively conversation about his life on the road, the inspiration behind his Eric En Plein Air PBS series, and the artistic journey that shaped him into one of today’s most exciting plein air voices. From studying at the University of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts to living and painting at Claude Monet's House and Gardens as a Munn Fellow Artist-in-Residence, Eric shares the origin story behind his passion for outdoor painting, teaching, and adventure. It’s an inspiring listen full of travel tales, career insight, and the spontaneous energy that makes plein air painting so magical."

  I had a fascinating visit today to Macculloch Hall in Morristown, NJ.   We'll be filming an episode there this summer for Season 2 so I wanted to visit beforehand.  Executive Director, Kathleen Bartlett gave me a wonderful tour inside and outside this beautiful Georgian mansion.  
  Macculloch Hall has tons of history which was almost lost as the home fell into disrepair before being saved in the 20th century.  There is a beautiful historic garden which is free and open to the public daily.  The garden includes some of the first wisteria in the US given by Commodore Perry in 1857 and also the second oldest sassafras tree in NJ.  Jersey tomato fans should note that the first recorded tomato was grown here!
  The museum has an impressive collection of artwork including work by Charles Wilson Peale (the founder of my alma mater - the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts).  They also house a collection of work by political cartoonist, Thomas Nast (1840-1902) who lived across the street from Macculloch Hall.  Amongst his political cartoons, Nast is responsible for the donkey and elephant political party mascot depictions.  And impressively, Nast created the modern depiction of Santa Clause (which may have been modeled after his own jovial likeness); Nast conjured up the North Pole, the Naughty or Nice list and other iconic Santa-related ideas.
  I had also planned to do some painting in their garden today, but it was raining so I'll have to wait until our return.  If you're in this area of NJ, then I definitely encourage you to visit Macculloch Hall to take a tour and experience this history for yourself!

  I want to say "Congratulations!" to my friend, J Schwanke for 100 episodes of his amazing public TV program!  J Schwanke's Life in Bloom has been one of my favorite shows for years and I am so happy for J and his family.
  J's show is inspiring, education, engaging, fun and peaceful.  If you enjoy flowers and gardening then it's a program that you must watch.
  You can watch the "One Hundred Blooms" episode (Season 8, Ep.805) here: https://www.pbs.org/video/one-hundred-blooms-mSipHT/  ..and keep an eye out for a familiar face around the 16:28 mark!