First Paint Out - Welcome To Plein Air

Day One

Hello, it's me  8x10, first painting

The first day of the paint out we awoke to stormy weather. My paint out partner and I texted with each other deciding to meet post-rain shower! So we started a little later than usual and with overcast mostly cloudy skies we were in for light change challenges! We did get rained on a little bit, but you know what? I had packed a garbage bag and used that as a "tarp" over my equipment wagon, it worked!

The changing light was the greatest challenge for us as it was dark grey skies  & fully overcast when we started painting, then flitted into pure sunlight, then rain clouds, then on and off clouds the rest of the afternoon -- Welcome to Plein Air.

Landscape Layer Cake 5x7

That first morning, I felt confident getting my composition down on the canvas (I did do a preliminary thumbnail sketch first which helped). However my first painting took me much longer than I expected for an 8x10 sized painting. I struggled to get to a completion point even though I am typically a fast painter. There was an abundance of green and I struggled with the aforementioned light changes. After thinking about it, I suffered from TMI syndrome. Too Much Information (visually) and I did not keep it simple. In hindsight I feel that I should have narrowed in my focus to a smaller or less complex scene.

Since my AM painting took me well into the afternoon, I did a small second painting in the afternoon. And since I labored so hard in the morning, I wanted to keep this one simpler. A smaller canvas helped with that and my afternoon 5x7 painting was completed in a little over an hour. I was happy with it, this little gem would go in the Wet Paint Sale on Sunday.

Day 2

Ah! The light was better, it was mostly sunny and blue skies--yes! This day I had planned to paint in a house  & garden in downtown Milford. I was painting alone as my art companions did not want to paint a house or flowers.

Sunlit Sanctuary, 8x10 AM painting

I had wanted to paint the entire front of the house ---from across the street (in order to get the house onto the canvas I would have to stand that far back). However, I was not able to park across the street (no parking on that side). And, I would have had to stand practically in the front yard of the house across the street! I had made arrangements to paint the one house but did not have permission from house across street occupants to paint on their lawn. Bummer as my initial plan just went awry. So, into the garden I went in search of a subject.

Right away I was drawn to an elaborately decorated pergola structure, it was truly amazing. I loved the light bright sunlight and the dappled shadows falling on this white structure. I decided to setup there and get the light pattern down.  And once again I fell into TMI Syndrome--there was so much information. There were stain glass windows, lattices, topiaries, vines, flowers, flower baskets and statues. Once again, I think I should have tried to keep it simple. I got the initial layout in just fine, but struggled to get this 8x10 completed. I am happy with the results, but I did struggle to achieve them.

Summer's Gate 8x10, my favorite

Again, the afternoon painting session was better, despite me starting late again. I bravely pulled out another 8x10 canvas and decided to paint a simpler subject (note the lesson learned here). Personally, of the four paintings, this is my favorite. The strokes are laid in and left alone. I made decisions and stuck with them. And while the gate isn't perfect, I like that it has that painterly quality--which is what I wanted. Note that I did not even attempt to paint details in the greenery behind the gate--the gate is the focus! I have not painted many works like this--of gate and garden but I definitely want to do more. This painting being an 8x10 took me half the time of the morning painting.

In conclusion, I am happy that I participated in this paint out so close to home. The advantage of being able to go home at night was wonderful. My fellow artist painters were amazing. Go and see the show at the SHAC in Milford NOW through August 22. I personally believe that 35 of the over 100 works are gallery worthy paintings--and I am serious. There is some amazing local talent! Two of my works for sale in this show include Sunlit Sanctuary and Landscape Layer Cake--you MUST see them in person--photos just cannot tell you the whole story! My other 2 works will be for sale on my website later this week!

Constructing a Portrait

Start at Mouth

AKA  The Post Workshop Recovery

I am still recovering from my portrait and gesture workshop last week. I call it the "Ow! My brain" workshop. I  would go home after the workshop at night, walk the dogs and then settle in for an hour of HGTV, just to decompress!

For Artists the best workshops force you to concentrate & focus, learning new thoughts and ideas and starts. How many people start the portrait with the mouth (not eyes, not nose)? That was such a challenge to start the portrait with the mouth line, oh my! And yet, from mouth to nose to eye, I think I captured a likeness in my drawing--yes this drawing on the right was started at the mouth and then nose then left eye!

Here are some "warm up" drawings. We did eye, mouth and nose each from right side, front , and left side. I know it is hard to see the words written there, but one of my favorite exercises was to write the shape descriptions of the feature that you see. As a Visual artist, writing the words to describe the shape of the mouth instead of drawing is a tremendous brain challenge! I did the written descriptor challenge for each face section (mouth, eye, nose)--hence the "Ow My Brain." And here I challenge you to take a workshop that will challenge you!

Warrior Maiden, painted pre-workshop

As you know, lately I have been flirting with unfinished paintings. I go to live portrait sessions (uninstructed) each week and we always have such limited time, about 2.5 hours. I paint fairly quickly and I am learning when to stop so I do not overwork my subject.

Typically pre-workshop I started a portrait with a vertical-ish line for head tilt and then I add horizontal lines for eyes, bottom of nose, and mouth and top of head. Then I add vertical lines for long and short side of face. While I filled in most of my lines with paint, I did leave a few out in this unfinished work. I can and will overwork a painting.

In person the skin tone and mouth of this portrait have a bright luminosity which I love. This particular portrait does not accurately reflect the model, her eyes are slightly smaller, but I still like how this came out. Although I have to state that after my portrait workshop I will look more closely and concentrate more strongly on features. I named this Warrior Maiden as she has an Athena quality and look to her doesn't she?

The good things I see include the warm coral lip colors, the bright greens in the headpiece and the leaf shadows on her forehead. While she was in a white flowy top, I left the white canvas there to represent the top  strap and I feel that what I left out is really nice, this unfinished one is done!

Scouting Locations for Plein Air

My first Paint Out is just a few weeks away!

My Usual Spot--way across the lake!

"...In Summerrrr"--channeling Olaf of Frozen!  Summer is the busy season here in Michigan and I have a lot going on. I have an art workshop later this week and in a few weeks I have my first paint out! Ack! So much going on, so much to do! I have placed my art order, ensuring that I have enough paint, brushes and canvas for the paint out. My friend and I also decided to 'scout' our favorite park for new painting locations.

Like many, I have a default painting spot. I find that with the changing light or with hazy days or with seasons changing, my spot has endless painting possibilities. My friend wanted to scope out some new locations in our large park -which meant we had some ground to cover! Requirements only included being near a restroom and not having to walk too far (lugging all that painting equipment).

We met up at the usual place and with a park map. Then we proceeded to drive and walk the park from entrance to entrance, this took us a little over 2 hours. We drove from location to location and then walked the paths looking for vistas all around. The picture posted here was taken from a peninsula in the middle of the lake--I was shocked that there was a path that went the whole way out to the tip of the peninsula. While I probably wouldn't chose that spot to paint, it was interesting to see my "usual spot" from the middle lake view--so far away (my usual spot is where the red arrow is pointing).

Now, it is noted, that we went in the evening so painting in the morning these spots the light will be very different. We found about 6 new locations, two we thought would be really special for the plein air paint out. Our hope is that knowing the area in advance and having spots selected will be beneficial to us for the paint out.

Embrace The Sunshine

Look at this delicious day! 

Eyes on the Forecast


Since last week I have been watching the weather waiting for a "Today Day."  Today was the perfect summer day, all sunshine and low humidity and blue sky -- let's get outside and paint! 

A Good Start...

After the forecast last night, I emailed TWENTY (yep 20) of my artist friends inviting them out to plein air paint with me in the park today.  All I needed was one supportive artist to meet me there! 

Candace met me in the park and the two of us had a whole discussion on how having someone else (that one other person) to paint with makes all the difference with regards to motivation and painting. All of us think about painting and know we should take advantage of these perfect days, but often none of us get out there to do it on our own. 

Tree Aglow

Candace and I each are signed up for our first Plein Air Paint Out next month and we know that the more plein air experience we have beforehand the better our paintings could be. I want to ensure that my set up is comfortable, my plein air checklist accurate, and I want to scope out plein air locations. Equipment set up was especially important for Candace as she has a new easel. I pretty much tested my equipment at a painting retreat a few weeks ago (a good challenge).

My painting--well I started off great and then towards the finish I got a little lost with the background trees. My friend had problems with her canvas, it was too smooth and slick to take the oil paint. We each had our issues and yet we both agreed today was a good day because being outside in the sunlight, listening to the birds sing was meditative and beautiful. 

The ARTVentures Of Janet & Sara

AKA Day 3 at the Plein Air Retreat

4 Versions of schoolhouse -- Which is Janet's? Which is mine?

The third day started out sunny, so many of us headed over to the old schoolhouse to paint. I love all of the versions of these four paintings, don't you? It was a good morning painting, although we faced typical plein air woes--dust and bugs and wind! The bugs loved our paint and canvases, the canvas of my sky was filled with dirt and bug--ugh! Still, it was a good morning, although the wind got so blustery many of us packed up early.

Selfie!

Janet, ArtVenture Partner!

Schoolhouse in the AM!

After lunch the sky darkened and the wind got strong, it really looked like rain wanted to pour down on us. After lunch Janet and I decided to drive around and "scout" locations, taking reference photos. We had a map of locations were we could paint-- we had a lot of driving to do as there were miles of dirt roads between each location. Needless to say, we hadn't seen most locations!

At lunch we had learned of a new location near the pond, which we decided to check out. But the sky oh the sky was the darkest meanest gray -- we really thought it was going to pour on us! Hey, let's keep moving and taking photos--ok! We followed each other in our vehicles down dirt road after dirt road--it was an adventure!

CC Farm

CC Farm

First we went to CC Farm and there we met Al, a lovely man who took us for a ride on his 'Gator'--let the ArtVenture Begin! A Gator seems to be a cross between a golfcart and a four wheeler/race tractor. Gator's drive quickly through the woods, Al was happy to show us some of his 220 acres and where most artists like to paint. There was a lovely creek, but it was fairly far in--would have been a long walk with our art equipment. He is a lovely and kind man with a beautiful property.

It still looked like rain, so we decided to scout more locations. Where should we go next?

On the way to the next farm along a road we saw some cows (unfortunately no place to pull over and paint). The cows in the sunlight were gorgeous! When there was no traffic, we stopped and took a few photos. Now I have to learn to paint a cow!

The next farm was atop a hill, and I fell in love with the farmhouse, taking many pictures. We did not go to meet the farmer, but did decide this would be a nice location to paint--wish we had found this place sooner!

Mary's Place

Next we drove over to Cedar Creek to get pictures of the North and South views. Again, despite being a dirt road this was a busy road! We pulled over to get some photos. While I was taking photos, a local woman stopped and asked me, " Are you an Intern?". Tee hee (I had my Name tag & Plein Air Painter badge on)! Nope, I am participating in the plein air painting event! Then she stopped her car to talk to Janet who was behind me. As we had told her we were painters taking photos, she told us we had to see the flowers at her house! She gave Janet directions to her house, so I followed Janet in my car and we went to check out Mary's property! The Adventure Continues!

Mary's Place

Mary's property is amazing--atop a hill with many lovely trees and flowers. Also, she has a horse who came out to say hello to us! When we looked out from her vista, we saw a creek below. The sky was bluer now, the grey clouds gone. Mary's property also had a lovely little bridge across the creek. Her property was beautiful, we left a thank you note and our business cards.

Mary's Horse

Other than photo references which we will paint later, we also learned that the kindest most beautiful people are Artists AND  those who support artists. Thanks to all who opened their farms and locations for us to paint, we loved every minute! We laughed and smiled and giggled our way through this day -- many thanks to Janet for being my ArtVenture Partner! I still SMILE thinking about this fun ARTVENTURE DAY!

A New ArtVenture-- The Plein Air Retreat

STOP! Plein Air Painters Ahead!

I went to a plein air paint out last week, not knowing what to expect, but feeling prepared and excited. The paint out was pure plein air painting, no instruction. With other artists from around the state in a Nature Center setting a few hours from home, we met to paint. The schedule was grueling and amazing: breakfast, painting, lunch, painting, dinner, demo, art critique, shower, bed, next day repeat! I loved meeting all of the other artists and it was great to "escape" daily life and focus on painting and art talk--no cooking, no cleaning, just painting! A good time! All artists were given a map of painting locations (areas in which we were permitted to paint). It was hard to choose locations as many of us did not know the area!

Day 1, Painting the barn - sunny & nice

My friends Janet & Teresa were there the same days that I was and we had fun choosing painting locations and meeting all of the other attending artists. Plus, several other friends joined us later in the week. The first afternoon was sunshine and excitement as we painted a barn from the side of the dirt road. Hey, we each got a decent painting! There was lots of sunshine, and after painting we had dinner, watched a demo, attended art critique (of the days paintings) and then I took a shower, it was late! The art critique was my favorite--all of the talent in the room was amazing!!! Wow!

STOP! Plein Air Painters AHEAD!

Day two I had a good morning painting, but the afternoon was less successful. From my earlier blog you know I packed a million canvases--way more than needed. So I did have too many canvases, otherwise I was glad that I brought what I brought. And, art supply wise, I did not forget or need anything so that was a plus due to our remote location. Also, on day two since the afternoon was tough (I think I was tired), I worked on a small one hour painting. It was a good way to stay fresh without the pressure of making a full size or great painting. I will have to find and post a pic at a later date.

Would I attend a plein air painting retreat again? Absolutely! As I mentioned earlier, I loved the art critiques in the evenings. The work of many artists was "Lovely"--I guess I said that a lot, but there was so much talent in one room! It was amazing to see what other artists can produce in a morning or in a day. I also really enjoyed meeting other artists and talking about processes and art supplies -- it is good to get out of your art comfort zone -- to go out and explore the world with new art friends.

I was painting across the road from this gal on our day three painting adventure, I loved the sign behind her... I proposed our next year Tee Shirts be this image & caption!

Prep for a Painting Retreat

What Else Will I Need?

Kensington, last summer 5x7

One of my art friends expressed surprise when I asked how I should prepare for a plein air painting retreat. "Each week you pack your art supplies and paint at a friends studio." Yes, that is true---BUT after the studio, I go home and unpack--also the studio is indoors. A Painting Retreat will be four plein air days at a Nature Center (staying on location) with no art supply stores nearby.

Additionally, a plein air retreat means that I will have to bring my outdoor equipment. I have plein air painted before, typically near my house--logging many day trips to the park and back with a trunk full of art supplies. So I asked my art group--"What else will I need?" Here is what they said:

Important Items to Bring for a Plein Air Event:

First Aid Kit, Eye Drops, Energy Bars, Water, Gatorade, Extra Plastic Bags, Ball Cap, Paper Towels, Wet Panel Carrier, Bug Spray, Sunscreen, Brush Soap, Extra Tape, Hiking Boots, Warm Socks, Extra Socks, Long Sleeves, Spring Clamp, Clothing Layers, Lots of Brushes

Advice:

• Go through paints bring fresh full tubes and a large tube of white
• Inventory Mediums and take extra
• Perform Equipment Check
• Put your name on Everything
• Put Business Cards in a Baggie
• Anything you carry can get WET

Great advice, thank you friends,