Plein air painting; Top 10 things I love
6 08 2007Here is a follow up to my previous top 10 list about painting on location. You will notice that some of the things that I cited as pains in the tuccus are also some of the very things I love. And there is a lot more to love than what I’ve written below!
- The challenge of racing against time to capture the ever changing light.
- Appreciating the beauty of the natural world firsthand.
- Being outside to witness the special quality of light that comes early in the morning (before breakfast) and just before sunset (around dinner time).
- Getting lost in the experience (this happens for me in the studio, but not as intensely as it does when I’m painting on location. I lose all track of time and am able to be in hyperfocus.)
- Those ah-ha paintings– When everything about the painting experience gels and you’ve said everything you wanted to say with an economy of brushstroke and a real understanding of the light (makes all those other half-finished plein air studies worthwhile!)
- Connecting with so many kind and interesting people from all over the world.
- Using all of your senses to create–seeing so much more color and information in nature than it is ever possible to see in photographs.
- The challenge of editing out some of that color and information to make a cohesive and well composed painting.
- Painting along with other artists and seeing how differently they interpret the same scene.
- Those moments of quiet solitude, but not really feeling “alone” because you are a part of it all!
Jennifer
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An excellent appreciation! The Tao of Plein Aire.
Thanks Dave. Even though the previous post about plein air painting being a “pain in the tuccus” had some truth to it, it was really more tongue in cheek. I really do love it, and it always feels better writing about what I love. Appreciation is where it’s at.
I enjoyed meeting you today, although briefly. Your website looks great. No black background! I can’t wait to see your work up close. I hope those “experimental” paintings are hanging. They’re just as good, and ya gotta have a little spice.
Adam-
It was a pleasure meeting you also. Thanks for finding me on the web and for leaving your comments. Glad to know you enjoyed my “experiments”. I anticipate doing more along those lines in the near future. Who knows, maybe I’ll even hang some in the gallery, so come by and take a look some time. I agree, what’s life without a little spice? –and a little swing!