|
"Plein Air Painting"
or
"Outdoor Painting"
Plein air is the term used for painting on
location in "fresh air" or "plain air". To me, it's just painting
"outdoors"! For the past three years, I've painted in local parks near my
home so often, that I've become known as the "park painter"!
Painting on location doesn't need to be a daunting experience. First
you'll need to decide which medium you prefer, and then decide what
essentials you'll need to carry with you into the field. I paint with oils
or pastels but the essentials are the same.
Here's a must have list.....
-
Medium of your choice - for oils, choose
a warm and cool of each primary, plus white. Limiting your palette will
force you to be more observant and mix your colors more carefully to
achieve color harmony. If pastels, I recommend beginning with a quality
landscape set, and then adding colors as you find the need. I probably
have about 200 colors for my field kit...not a lot of pastels actually!
-
Since I use a palette knife and paint
alla prima with oils, I don't need a medium or paint thinner, but if you
use brushes, you'll need a small quantity of each. Check out the small
tins with plastic snap on caps. Don't take large bottles...think weight
and size!
-
EASEL. See what other artists use
and ask questions. Find an easel that suits your needs! If you
need to sit, choose an easel that allows for height variations. I use a
Soltek which is highly wind resistant and has adjustable legs for uneven
ground. Weight is a factor and so is size.
-
Clean-up supplies. Either a small
handtowel, paper towels (fold several into your bag...leave the roll in
the back of your vehicle), handy wipes, or baby wipes work well for
dusty hands or oily fingertips. Don't take the entire box or
roll....take only what you need for that painting session.
-
Your choice of surface to paint
on....canvas, canvas board, gessoed board, paper, etc. depending on the
medium. Start with smaller sizes - 8x10, 9x12, 11x14.
-
A wet painting carrier is a must with
oils. I keep pizza boxes in my vehicle to place wet oils into while
transporting. Since pastels are dry, they are much simpler. Just cover
with a sheet of glassine and stack or slip into a portfolio - waterproof
if possible!
-
Sunscreen and Bug Repellant (must haves!)
-
A hat to shade the eyes or be sure to
stay in the shade! Sunlight on your painting surface or palette will
cause you to compensate and paint too dark.
-
An umbrella to shade your painting
surface is optional. I usually work in the shade or turn my painting
surface so that it blocks the sun. A piece of foamcore behind my
stretched canvas blocks the sun well also without adding weight.
-
WATER - stay hydrated, even in cold
weather!
-
Cell phone - keep it handy in your bag in
case of emergency, especially if you paint alone in remote areas.
-
I keep a whistle attached to my paint bag
in case I need to make a lot of noise! Three bursts is an emergency
signal.
|
|
Oil Pastels Outdoors
Oil pastels are one of my favorite mediums
for painting outdoors. Think light when packing your bag! Choose a plastic
tackle box and sort the oilies by color families for fast selection. If
the weather is warm, you can sit the tackle box into a lightweight cooler
with ice below it. Put a towel over the ice and it will stay cold much
longer. This is a good idea when traveling in a warm vehicle or leaving
your oilies sitting in the back of an auto for short periods of time.
-
Another tip when the temps rise over 80
degrees outside. Switch to one of the harder consistency oil pastels
such as Craypas Specialist or Caran D'Ache.
-
Supplies for the outdoor adventure....
-
an easel
-
Craypas Specialist wooden box set (my
choice)
-
several paper towels folded in plastic
bag
-
baby food jar of turpenoid and a one inch
brush
-
razor blade in holder for scraping
several oil pencils for sketching
couple of baby wipes for cleaning hands
-
substrate of choice - usually Art
Spectrum stapled to foamcore
Steps when painting......
-
Set up easel with the open box of Craypas
in front
-
Attach substrate to easel and sketch the
scene
-
Check composition for shapes....big,
medium, and small sizes. Where is the horizon? Avoid the center of the
painting or you will have two halves. Think in unequal proportions and
abstract shapes.
-
A thumbnail sketch will be valuable for
seeing the value structure of the scene, especially when the light
changes!
-
Paint in light layers the large shapes
paying attention to value. If you want to blend, use the turpenoid and
brush to lightly blend. This will create an almost watercolor like
surface to complete your painting on.
-
If you begin to think details, stop and
step back, squinting to compare your work with the scene. Details should
only be added at the end and then very sparingly!
-
Look for more than one color in a shape.
For example, a tree shape. Choose blue/purple/orange/yellow or other
colors. Hold them in your left hand as you work switching from color to
color as the eye discerns glints of various colors in the shape. Notice
I did not say "green". Green should be used after you have the shape of
the tree established and then only in minute touches! A little green
goes a long way!
-
Keep asking yourself "why did I choose to
paint this scene?" That's the key to your focal point, or the atmosphere
that you want to capture, or the area you want to give the most
attention to. And....when you have answered that question, it's time to
stop painting! You have said enough.
-
And last but not least,
Have FUN!!
|