Happy Labor day!
Last week I was out and about painting locally. Here are some of the best ones..
It’s always an adventure to paint outside. Things never go the way you expect them to. Case in point: I am driving down to San Pedro, unloading my paint stuff and looking around for a good view. The first thing I notice is that my water container spilled water all over my bag…mmmh, ok. No big deal, just put it in the sun while walking around looking for a painting spot.
I usually bring my point and shoot and take lots of pics to help me find a good composition. So I turn on my camera and it says ‘change battery pack’. Needless to say I forgot to bring extra batteries…Classic! I actually had to wait two minutes every time I wanted to take a picture, so the batteries would just last long enough to let me take one.
Walking around, confused, trying to decide what to paint and from where, I finally get settled and started painting just to notice there’s only about half an hours daylight left! OMG, better get going… You can see, none of this happens in your studio and you’re forced to really deal with all kinds of fun outside. But I highly recommend it. It made me a better painter! It is sooo important and a great confidence builder! Just do it! I know it’s intimidating, go with a buddy or take a plein air course first but I swear to you, it will improve your work significantly!
FRANK EBER: A PAINTER'S BLOG 
The fishing trawler is awesome, Frank, with that touch of light on the bow. The color of the water is beautiful and looks as though you painted it effortlessly. I enjoy looking at that piece as much as I enjoy looking at some of Sargeant’s Venice watercolors. I mean that.
wow, Leslie…I am not quite at Sargent’s level, but I wanna thank you for your awesome comment…it’s a process, isn’t it? I am never quite happy with what I produce but that’s what makes me try harder! thanks for your visit, as always!
Interesting how you captured the little dance of light on the water in both paintings. Do you use an extra rough sheet of paper? Arches?
I admire the fact that you can paint outside. There are too many crackpots outside for me to deal with. And everyone either has something to say or they are so clueless walking around with their iPods stuck in their ears with the music so loud it’s BLARING so that everyone else can hear that they would probably walk right into me and then make a comment that I am stopped on the sidewalk and that I should keep moving.
🙂
Hey Carol, how are you? I do use Arches rough. It leaves little sparklies when you rip the brush across the paper and I love those.
I agree with you about the painting outside thing, sometimes it can be a challenge with people. But I have to say most the times, it’s no problem. They comment and move on, for the most part. There are those you feel compelled to ask a lot of questions or point out things i.e. ‘aren’t you gonna put this and that in?’ or comments like: ‘are you an artist?’ can be a challenge…
I try to stay friendly and they usually leave me alone after a bit of observing. Plus, when you’re painting outside you are so immersed in what you do, you hardly notice them anyways..
Thanks for stopping by, my friend!
I myself has just gotten into open air painting and I know exactly what you mean! -Water spilling, easel leg dropping, sand getting into paint, etc…
I quite enjoy the softness in both of these. You have captured the slight fog that hangs over these areas so well. Very subtle and beautiful- nice work!
What a great comment, Aubrey…thank you, it’s good to hear I am doing ok. Plein air is really something, isn’t it? Thank you for visiting and happy painting!