Travel and painting #1

I've packed my bags - have found a way to get all my art equipment in a single suitcase - complete with wet panel carriers and paper towels.  The only thing I'm not flying with is the Gamsol.  I'll post a photo of the whole package later in the trip.  Middleburg VA was the site of my first plein air painting of this trip. I had managed to hike into an awesome location the day before at Great Falls Park - got mostly set up and realized I didn't have my paper towels.  I ended up using the time to take photos, and do some sketches in pen.  It was a good exercise, even though not what I'd planned.  Back to Middleburg.  I found a nice shady site under a huge magnolia tree and painted a house.  I was almost done when the home owner came out to see what I was doing.  She asked if I'd put her husband's old cat into the paintings, brought me a photos and Randolf was added.  Sold the painting on the spot!

Plein Air in Redlands

Hubby Travis biked and I painted yesterday just outside of Redlands CA. While Travis rode 100 miles around Big Bear, I found a couple spots that appealed.  The first, over the valley through some hills with two lone pine trees.  It was early morning – sun was still below the mountains.  No sooner did I get set up, than “boing” up popped the sun – right on my back!  Pretty bright on the canvas.  I wasn’t there long!  Second spot was a bit down the hill.  I loved the patterns the darks and bright yellows made.  Then, to top it off, a bunch of bikers rode by – so of course, I had to put one in.  Think these need work!

Kathleen Dunphy workshop

Kathleen Dunphy plein air workshop was an amazing experience.  Not only was the town of Murphys quite a discovery (who wudda thunk), but in 3 days, Kathleen managed to make plein air painting “do-able.”  Up until now, my efforts have been cumbersome and inefficient – and not worth the energy.  And several of the lessons (aha moments) apply to studio work as well.

Quick rundown of the major take-aways:

-  Don’t take anything you don’t need; and you need much less than you think.  I had already streamlined my backpack and reduced what I brought to the bare minimums since I was flying.  After the first morning lecture, I managed to reduce my pack by another 50%.  I got rid of all the “aids” I’ve never used, the extra paints and mediums and resolved to take the glass out of my palette box.

- You can make almost any color you need with a very limited palette.  Kathleen had us using the basics: Titanium White, Cad Yellow Lemon, Naples Yellow, Perm Red, Ultramarine Blue and Cold Grey.  Everything else derived from those tubes of paint.

- Draw, sketch for design (composition)  Shape of composition determines shape and size of canvas. Put drawing on canvas then look at the scene.

- Pre-mix colors: Standard secondaries: violet, orange & green.  Then colors to match the scene.  Can see the whole basic color selection on palette – great to preview to make sure they all work together.

Finally, Kathleen takes her studies to the studio for the final 10% painting.  The three days’ work is still unfinished, will post finished ones once they are done.  In the mean time, here’s what came out of the weekend.