Yesterday's Study

I had one more day of sun so I headed out to paint after church. I added turquoise to my palette and pushed the color. I started with brush but missed my palette knife. I have learned to love the palette knife. It is now easier for me than a brush.
I liked my composition but the colors are not my style. It was a good day painting.
This view was from a bike trail along the Pacific Ocean. Beautiful.

The Great Paint Out

I arrived late to the great paint out on Saturday. There were my favorite fellow plein air artist, Kathy Huxley and Rob Decker. The painters who know that it takes work, practice, time and a love of art. Also, sun screen... lots of sun screen, layered clothes, chap stick, willingness to pick debris out of your hair and painting. You know, die hard, plein air painters. "Shadow chasers" or "Sun Chasers". Painters who don't mind a potential audience asking you questions about your work, a barrage of art critiques willing to let you know what is wrong with your work and many wishing they could be a plein air painter, too. Either way, it is one of best ways to learn how to paint.
Here is my piece. It is not a great piece but an improvement. This was trail along side the Pacific Ocean. I know. I have ocean and beautiful sky around me and I want to paint a trail with green and grays.

Elio's Workshop

Here are a few pictures from Elio Camancho's workshop last week. Beautiful.

Art is Hard!

I have been in an art workshop this weekend and still haven't posted anything. I painted some of my worse pieces but I learned so much. The instructor and artist was Elio Camancho. I walked away asking myself more questions about art and color. It certainly made me think in a way that I had not in past. It, also, reminded why I love art and associate it to math.
You must have a strong foundation and understand the vocabulary in both in order to resolve the problems before you. I look at both as doing puzzles. In math, though, there is one correct answer and, like art, you must show your work to prove your understanding.
In art, there are infinite answers but your final piece must look correct. Again, you show your work.
Art is hard.

In a Fog

I am in the fog today so that is what I am painting. After painting two different studies with fog, I noticed you can have a warm fog and cool wet fog. Today was a warm fog sitting at the top of the mountain. Last week, I had cool fog that sitting on the ocean. Quite a difference in painting the two. I still started today's painting with all cool colors and there were no shadows.
So, here is my study for the day. I painted the same scenery as yesterday but the weather is different.
Thank goodness for quick draw winner, Rob Decker. He came over and gave me a few suggestions and my tree quit looking like a lollipop.

Can't see the Forest

Isn't that an expression? You can't see the forest for the trees. Well, today I was sitting in the forest looking at a beautiful scenery of mountains, trees, forest and blue sky with just the hint of river below. I simplified the entire scenery by reducing the mountain with the forest covering it and focusing those trees up front. I love the triangle shapes in this study and I left the blue shadow created by an unknown tree you can't see on the far right. Oh and I took my shoes and socks off, rolled up my pant legs and enjoyed a beautiful day painting.
While painting, I was interrupted by a cell phone call only to find out it was another plein air painter, Rob Decker, calling me. He was about 20 yards in front on me and had a question. I hung up on him and walked over to see what he wanted. He was all upset that I hung up on him. He was joking, of course.. or so I think. I still don't know what his question was. By the, Rob Decker is a top pastel artist. Check out his art on Etsy.

Ready. Set. Paint!

When you are painting outside it is a race to get your painting completed before all the light changes. You need to be ready, and set to paint if you are a "sun chaser" or should I say "shadow chaser".
Here is my setup with the foggy study above my new study. This is a sunny day and I wanted to paint the same composition that I used in the foggy study.
I also painted second study just because I wanted the practice.
I started about 8:45 and ended approximately around 1:30. I took a half an hour break in between chatting with another plein air artist and a few observers.

A Moment in the Sun

I had just a few hours of sun today so I raced out to paint. I am posting my first stage of the painting and the finished study.
After I came home, I saw where the mountain top at the left and the sea stack rock are painted with their tops above one another. That can't be good so I will have to adjust it.

I Can't Stop the Rain

I can't stop the rain and the rain isn't going to stop me. I have so much time left here and I am going to spend as much as I can painting. So here is my setup this morning as I shivered through fog and rain to paint a study of the foggy coast through the trees.

The painting went well until my fingers started to freeze on me. I then ran into a problem with a rock ledge. I decided to resolve the problem by covering it with shrubbery. I think it worked and I got to get into my nice warm truck and home quicker.

Continuing my Education

Here is today's landscape study. I was actually pleased with it. I will do this particular study a few more times. I like the keyhole effect where the center of interest is.
This is an 8x10 oil with palette.

Starting Somewhere

You have heard the expression that you have to start somewhere. Here I am. Starting somewhere with my plein air paintings. Not easy but it is fun to be outdoors. What is more fun is the reaction from people. Some don't quite understand what I am doing in the initial stages of painting. I am perfectly okay with that.
Here is today's study. I am still trying to resolve painting a cement path. I used a mixture of c. blue, l. yellow and pink to gray it down.
I am happy with the study. Not too sure about the composition. I will keep painting and learning.

Plein Air and Chasing the Sun

I had a great time today painting outdoors with fellow artist. There were a few people who wanted to chat. I have no problem with that. I miss the opportunity to get a complete painting but I like to encourage others to enjoy art.
I am okay with this results. Every day painting is a good day.

Greens From the Garden

Check out my greens from my square foot garden. My radishes are coming up and all is growing in my square foot garden. I love the concept. Check out the book or youtube if you want an efficient way to plant your vegetables. I am sold on it.

Let the Sun Shine

Here is my block study. I cropped the painting photo to see how to improve the composition.
Great stuff block studies. You improve your understanding of value, perspective and color.