Painting Plein Air (Almost)

Oh dear!  Over a month since my last post.  However I have not been idle.  Alongside the weekly preparation I do for the pastel and the mixed media classes I teach I have also been organising a water mixable oils workshop for April.  I have painted a demo canvas of 'Agapanthus', photographed the stages and hope enough people will be inspired and sign up for the session.



'Agapanthus', water-mixable oils, 16" x 16" box canvas
 

I have so enjoyed working with these Artisan paints that I plan to do a lot more with them this year.  In fact my plan involves painting 'en plein air'.  Yes, on location rather than in the studio from photos.  I have a Mabef pochade box and wood tripod I have not really used - so now is the time (well, as the weather improves maybe).  I have already organised all my painting equipment together so that I can just grab it and go.

I have been very eager to have my first experience.  I am used to working in a sketchbook on location but this is small scale, tended to be dry media, and definitely unobtrusive.  I am sure I will have a lot to learn - all those greens for a start!!!  Despite the awful weather last weekend I had my heart set on doing something.  Rain, sleet, and a windchill factor of minus seven convinced me it would be foolhardy to try my first time in situ so I opted to set up in my freezing cold conservatory instead.  It has no heating and I resisted the temptation to use a fan heater.

 

Create mid-tone as base...

 

Establish composition, get some loose colour across whole canvas...

 

Starting to add definition, broader colour and tonal range...
 

Final painting - in about 2 hours!
 

It certainly isn't perfect but for just two hours work in cold conditions (my fingers were going numb) I was reasonably happy.  With hindsight I would definitely want to soften the thin branches against the sky to the left as they should be further back in space.  Possibly the snowdrops around the foreground apple tree could extend to the right and leave the canvas.  But for what it is, I'm happy.

Painting a view from life is a very different experience.  Until the weather improves have a go at a scene through your window whether it's the garden or a view up the street - it is certainly an enjoyable way to pass a few hours!