Painting " En Plein Air"

Ok... so I have been dabbling in the Arts for years. I have finally found my niche...
Painting En Plein Air... or out doors. When I was younger my mother was an avid oil painter. She took classes with a local artist named Dale Wilson. His focus was on Barns, Landscape of all kinds, mostly pastoral. My mother tended to work on subjects from photos. She painted lovely images of young Navajo girls, complete with satin skirts and every fold painted lovingly. I admired her talent and not until she was very sick did I decide to take up oil painting myself. I tried my hand at watercolor, pastel,fibers, lampwork beadmaking... and many other art forms but when I tried oil I was in love. I painted one painting before she passed away, she did not have the chance to see my work. After her death I put down the brushes and this Spring,six years later, I picked them up again. I know I touched on this in an earlier blog so I will not expound.


I have taken lessons from 2 artist this Spring. Robert Pennor, a landscape artist was the one that got me back on track. His dry sense of humor, and my classmate, made for a great experience. I was working on my landscape painting so that I might build some skills to use in my plein air class. I thought I would be at the bottom of the class with such little experience... After my landscape class I think I was prepared. I read books, made color charts, worked on my skills every chance I could get.

My first outdoor painting class was fun, my teacher, Jacquline France, a delight. Setting up outdoors was a challenge. I have an Alla Prima Pochade box. I love it. I am still looking for a tripod for it. I found one on ebay and am hoping it will arrive in time for my last class. I found the exact tripod online that my dad used to use for photography. I was unable to find his in the belongings that were left behind after his passing. We set up in Wheaton in Adams park... my first lesson was a Quick paint of sorts. I found that I was painting the entire park rather than focusing on a smaller detailed area. That was my first lesson. The next time we set up was at Seven Gables. Another park in Wheaton, IL. I found that I had an accurate depiction of my subject, several white barns, but was not using enough paint to give it a " painterly " effect.

I picked up a book " Inside & Out" By Kevin Macpherson. I found it a great study book. I was inspired by his limited palette of colors, helping to pack a light bag by reducing paint tubes. Today I tried my hand at Herrick Lake in Wheaton, a lovely placid lake and a nice color study. Every woman in my class is so talented. All have such a different approach and a different eye, but each painting a delight to see. After packing up my things I had so much paint left on my palette that I decided to paint a quick paint in my own front yard when I returned home.

I have included my painting here in my blog. I don't think it is too bad for my 10th painting in 6 years. I hope to continue to be inspired by painting outdoors. It is amazing how differently one looks at things through an artists eye. The color of clouds, water, sky, pastures... shapes, contrast, value... it has really opened up this " artists eye" I can't wait to paint again ... soon