In our everyday life, our unique experience, our exposure to change and mistakes are what forge us into a more knowledgeable and, arguably, better person. As with anything, new painting experiences usually end with a less than desirable result. Failure is good, it makes you grow, experiment and improve your skills to conquer.
Anyone who has painted for any length of time has been told at some point, “There is nothing like painting from life," usually in the form of a still life or portraiture. Now take everything you've experienced or heard about painting from life and turn it up to 11—that is plein air painting.
Painting from life is great, as you see the true colors, the true values, the true shadows, the true light. In my opinion, it's needed to grow as a representational or impressionistic painter. However, it doesn't necessarily give you the full experience. The experience of changing light, moving shadows, undulating water, shifting winds, along with moving subjects and clouds. Not to mention other activities outside of what you are trying to focus on, like distractions provided by an off-leash dog or hovering bystanders.
What I love the most about plein air painting, though, is how it can all change. In any moment of time, the sky, the grasses, or the water may seem lifeless, but wait 10 minutes and everything transforms. The sky builds an amazing array of clouds, the grasses are gleaming with a wash of warm light and the water now sparkles. This also applies in reverse; if you see something that is amazing, get it in before it disappears.
With plein air you are not just painting a landscape, you are painting the multitude of changes, curating your visual experience over the duration of the session. Nothing a single photo can ever convey.
Lights First: Painting Late Afternoon Dappled Light
Denne historien er fra December 2021 - January 2022-utgaven av International Artist.
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Denne historien er fra December 2021 - January 2022-utgaven av International Artist.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Fresh Eyes
Anna Rose Bain discusses the passions of being an artist and helping students transform their own work
The Next Level
Jacob Dhein uses a wet-into-wet technique to create painterly depictions of a variety of subjects
Wild Spirit
Alternating between broad glazes and fine details, Claire Milligan captures the intricacies of the animal kingdom
The Bridge Between
Watercolorist Thomas Wells Schaller delves into the nuances of observation and imagination
The Color Continuum
Catherine Hearding demonstrates how she utilizes color to enhance the mood of her landscapes
Points of Precision
A strong focal point and attention to detail make Nicola Jane's artwork jump off the page
BE YOURSELF
Harley Brown's fascinating things no one else will tell you
JEFFREY T. LARSON
Expertly Putting the Pieces Together
Hot-Blooded
Blending elements of realism and surrealism, figurative artist Anna Wypych’'s paintings are dominated by vivid reds
Adam Clague Incandescence
Adam Clague’s masterful understanding of contrast allows him to paint subjects that seem to glow from within