Mrs. Texas is at the edge of a pumpkin patch, a big “patch”. Okay, a pumpkin field. We mistakenly thought it was summer squash, that yellow crookneck stuff that prompted a friend of mine to say, “‘Squash’ is the past tense of ‘squish’, and ‘squish’ is not a food.” (Right on, Ben!) But pumpkins? Yes! […]
Three More Improved Oil Paintings
Plein air is a good way to start a painting. It is also a good way to hang out with artist friends. However, all my plein air attempts require much attention later in the painting workshop.
Three Improved Beach Paintings
All three of these paintings were done plein air. I finally completed them in the painting workshop at home.
Plein Air in the Painting Workshop
After Krista and I spent an afternoon painting at the lake (Lake Kaweah), we spent a fair amount of time discussing plein air painting. She sent me a couple of short instructional videos, and I ended up as confused as always, still wondering if I would ever be able to produce decent paintings outside of […]
Plein Air at the Lake
Krista was willing and able to meet me at the lake (Lake Kaweah in Three Rivers) to plein air paint, the very next day after Trail Guy and I walked on the lake bottom. Gear management is one of the most difficult aspects of plein air painting. What do you actually need? Paint, brushes, oil, […]
A Walk on the Lake Bottom
Trail Guy and I went to Lake Kaweah— “The Lake” —for a walk. It was a crystal clear day. Stay tuned! I might do some painting here soon with my friend Krista who needs to do a few examples of plein air painting in order to qualify for a job. Like me she is a […]
Before and After, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8
2025 CALENDARS AVAILABLE HERE. In case these before and after posts are putting you to sleep, let’s skip the chit-chat and go right to the paintings. SIMPLY HOME The show hangs until December 29 at CACHE in Exeter. Their hours are Friday 1:30-4, Saturday 10-4, Sunday noon-4. It includes about 50 paintings, 3 original pencil […]
Before and After, #3
Plein air painting #3 was the only one I did that day because I spent the morning trying to solve my easel problem. A new friend at the painting retreat lent me a pochade box, which needed a tripod to hold it up if I didn’t want to paint sitting with it on my lap. […]
Before and After, #2
This is the second plein air painting I did in Monterey. I set up in the shade by the path to Asilomar Beach (another struggle against that easel), and this time I was determined to do a better painting. This painting gave me hope that I might be able to paint plein air. It also […]
Before and After, #1
This is the first plein air painting I did in Monterey. We set up on Asilomar Beach, and I tried to concentrate on painting when I just wanted to put my feet in the water and enjoy the waves. Instead, I tried to paint while the waves kept moving and my easel kept fighting against […]