Posts Tagged ‘plein air painting’
The End of an Era
Today I put on the finishing touches to “Aspens” that I thought was already completed. Also, several paintings were scheduled to be photographed. That happened, too. Tonight I edited them and “Aspens” is included in today’s post.
My time here is getting short. Exactly 2 weeks from today, Thelma returns to Illinois and I will leave shortly thereafter for Maryland. In the meantime we plan to do at least one more plein air painting next week at the Edison Estate. And soon the tax man cometh and I’d better be prepared!
Preparing for Class
Last week I took to class a very small photo of aspen trees in a forest. I had it enlarged enough to see in order to make a painting from it. I have not had time to spend on that painting until today, so today I spent the day painting.
By the time I finished the acrylic painting, it was too late to photograph it. In spite of the recommendation from the instructor of yesterday’s class on Photographing Art to do it indoors, I have had good luck taking photos of my work outside on the north side of a building in the shade. Tomorrow I will try to get some photos of paintings completed during this session so I can post them.
Tomorrow is the last class of the series. I look forward to it with sadness because I have had such fun this winter and done so many paintings that were outside my usual modus operandi. There is nothing like doing something different to gain a new perspective.
Exploring Solvang
Solvang’s rich heritage dates back to 1911 when adventurous Danish-Americans from Iowa and Minnesota traversed the plains to establish a settlement in California. They purchased 9,000 acres of the former Rancho San Carlos de Jonata adjacent to the historic 1804 Old Mission Santa Ines for $75,000 – a considerable sum in those days.
Today, I set off on foot down Alisal Road toward the center of town. All the buildings reflect the Danish farm-style architecture with their cross-beamed timbers framing either brick or stucco in rich reds, browns and greens; handsomely carved eaves and doorways; and roofing made of wood shingles cut jagged at the edges. Windmills of all sizes catch the light, a wooden stork on the top of the world famous Olsen Bakery, known for its Danish pastries, wards off lightening and brings good luck according to Danish tradition. Shops of all types and sizes line the streets.
Later in the afternoon, I visited the Old Mission and was able to do an oil painting in the courtyard. For dinner we ate steak at A.J Spur’s, modeled in the tradition of the Old West with huge beams supporting the walls and roof and stuffed animals of the plains here and there. The portions were huge and the steak and seafood were done to perfection!
Lychee Tea
It was more shopping today for Mary and me, but first we had to become beautiful! We stopped at the beautician’s shop for a manicure and pedicure, and then we were off. At the end of the day, we had completed our lists, including stops for lunch and tea. By the way, if you have the chance to try lychee green tea, hot or iced, give it a go! It’s a real treat! A lychee is a Chinese fruit, a small round fruit, much like a large grape, with a reddish skin, sweet whitish translucent pulp eaten fresh or dried, and a smooth hard seed. When I found one, peeled and seeded at the bottom of my cup, it was wonderful – a perfect ending to a great cup of tea!
No oil painting today for me, but I continue to admire all these beautiful trees. They are so different from my usual variety. By the way, did you know that the redwoods are cypress trees?
Challenges of Plein Air Painting
When a group of plein air painters were asked about the challenges of painting, they unanimously agreed that one of the greatest challenges is the changing light. Many artists use an 8” x 10” or similar sized board on which to paint, but the painting must be finished in 2 hours, else the shadows have changed.
Another challenge is hearing things rustle in the bushes and the wild life scurrying by. One artist in Rocky Mountain National Park just walked backwards toward her car when a bear sauntered by, apparently not seeing her, more interested in the smell of the paint. Another time she hopped the fence just as six horses came charging down the mountain.
The weather is also a challenge. Whether it is too hot, too cold, possibly rainy, or just right, the artist must find a way to be comfortable and have her easel in the shade. Plein air painting is not really about going to exotic locations, It’s really about painting what is around you and making it beautiful.
Burnout, again
I love to travel! One year, a few years ago, I was able to visit many places. In July, I was in Phoenix celebrating my relative’s 100th birthday, then stopped in NC for a week of plein air painting. In September, I went to Montana for a week of painting the mountains. I celebrated Thanksgiving in Banff, Canada, and Christmas in CA. In January, I was in FL to spend the winter, but in March, I was in Mexico, again painting. Finally, in May, I went to France for 10 days. When I returned, I didn’t want to go anywhere for a good, long time. I was burned out!
If you are burned out in your artistic venture, here are 3 more things to possibly help. Prioritize – perhaps get help for the tasks that others can do for you or allow more time to complete the work. Try something new – perhaps partnering with another artist on that large project. Take a workshop – online workshops are available and even You Tube has videos to bring fresh ideas, advance one’s skill and build confidence.
Suzannne’s Show – Part 2
Today I stopped by the frame shop where Suzanne’s paintings are on display. She has one large painting, several middle-sized paintings, and a few small paintings which were nicely arranged in a small display area. It is always good strategy to have a variety of sizes for persons with a variety of budgets.
Suzanne does plein air painting (outdoors) and represents the landscape very beautifully in a traditional manner. I can only wish her well and hope she has many successful years in the art world!
Fostering the Creative Process
Many writers need a quiet, secluded area to let their ideas meld into a cohesive narrative, and they certainly aren’t alone. Artists of all stripes-from painters and sketch artists to musicians-often retreat to an isolated quarters to develop their ideas. Of course, this area not only needs to be private, but it also requires items that are conducive to the creative process.
Plants, artwork, photographs and music all serve as viable sources of artistic inspiration. Having an adequate place to create your work is obviously a top priority as well. But don’t think you have to confine yourself to a drab workshop; plein air art is a great way to connect with nature on a personal level and infuse that relationship into your work.
Let Nature Be Your Muse
While I was driving home yesterday down a snaking road bisecting a densely packed forest, it dawned on me how little time I actually spend in nature. Most of my time is spent behind a keyboard or a steering wheel, and while I have the opportunity to enjoy the Pacific Northwest landscape on weekends, there is an undeniable disconnect from nature. And this trend is the norm in American society.
I often wish that I had the time and freedom to venture into nature and create some form of art, such as an open air painter. And while nature is obviously an ideal muse for painting, it has also sparked the creative sprit of many great writers and other types of artists, including Thoreau, Tolstoy and even bands like Led Zeppelin.
Unexpected Events
Today was expected to be an easy day – a dental appointment and painting with a friend. The dental visit was for a regular cleaning and that went fine.
Then I stopped by the ball field where my friend, Val, was supposed to be landscape painting. She had scouted around to find the spot she wanted and was just getting started. She had only a 5″ x 7 ” board to paint, and said she would be about half an hour and would meet me at my house about a mile away. It took her 1.5 hours to get that little painting done!
She brought some paintings for me to photograph and crop, then put on a disk so she could enter a competition. Everything went fine until time to burn the disk. I had done this before, but we struggled for 2 hours, and she finally left, disappointed at our failure. A while later, I did find the right sequence, so she has her disk and only has to mail it tomorrow!