Blog

Hey there!

My name is Catherine Epps, and I'm the Civilian Coordinator for the 11th Texas Dismounted Cavalry reenacting unit (https://www.facebook.com/groups/140225849354580/), and for the Liendo Civil War Weekend (https://www.facebook.com/CivilWarWeekendLiendo), near Hempstead, Texas (just NW from Houston off of Hwy 290). I am trying to expand the civilian stories portrayed at Liendo, the largest Civil War event in the State of Texas. I got to thinking that perhaps we could work together with some plein air painters for our mutual benefit!

At our event, we can field 1000+ Civil War soldiers in period uniform with the proper accoutrements and weapons (including cannons), and you will see them doing things in camp as well as things like marching in columns, drilling, and fighting in mock battles. We will also have hundreds of 19th c. civilians doing period appropriate activities like spinning, weaving, laundry, cooking, dancing, playing music, childrens' games, teaching school, having a fashion show, holding a wedding/funeral, etc., not to mention the Ball on Saturday evening. We will also have some Vintage 1860s Base Ball players on site. Everyone strives to be as accurate to the early 1860s as possible, in both dress and activities. Thus, we can provide you with some wonderfully picturesque scenes that haven't been around for 150 years!

I know that the event is allowing photographers in on a "press pass", if they will provide us with the use of their photos for our advertising purposes afterwards. Perhaps we could reach a similar arrangement with local painters? I know that I'd love to see a painting/print done of the front of the old ante-bellum plantation house with historically attired dancers or croquet players or folks picnicing on the lawn in front of the house under the spreading live oaks! I think the owner of the plantation would buy such a painting in a heart beat! I could see something very Impressionistic, like Monet's The Luncheon on the Grass or something. I know that the soldiers would love to see some battle scenes, complete with explosions, men falling to the ground, or sharpshooters up trees, a la Winslow Homer! I have no doubts that the 1860s Ball Players would love to see their story captured, as well.

In fact, here's another thought. We're having a School of the Soldier and School of the Civilian, coming up next weekend, Sept. 27-29. I know that this is short notice, but this event will be closed to the public, is for experienced reenactors to train the new recruits, and might be an excellent time for some artists to come out and do preliminary work that they might want to sell as prints or paintings at the Civil War Weekend at Liendo Plantation, on Nov. 22-24. I believe that there's a $50 vendors fee for anyone selling items at the event. However, the Event Coordinator, Miss Billie Woolever, told me that if your painters came in costume (we might be able to help you with that) to the actual event in Nov., and are willing to portray say "illlustrators for 1860s periodical magazines" as you work, then she can definitely help you on that vendors fee. Perhaps, in exchange for our helping you, posing for you, and broadly advertising your painters' work to any and all, you might donate a painting/sketch/print of something from Liendo to include in our Raffle to raise money to fund our own future projects? I know that if that occurs, I'll be buying lots of tickets myself, just for a chance to own such a precious memento! ;) In any case, I think that you'd have quite a healthy market selling sketches/prints/paintings to the thousands of reenactors that attend Liendo, and that doesn't even begin to speak of your market among the public that will come. Liendo holds a huge place in all of our hearts. Do come capture some historic moments?

I look forward to hearing from you sometime soon.
Sincerely, Catherine Epps