Painted this past week, “Hill Country Movement” was what I needed. The lighting finally is strong enough outdoors that I am excited to paint plein air again. An artist friend, Lynn Cohaganshowed me this location and I just love the movement and color there. With “windy” on the road sign, it can be a challenging site to avoid moving gear. My board wiggled in the 20 mph gusts and my brush sometimes connected with my paper in unexpected ways. It’s a fascinating place. I can’t wait to return.
Painted on location at the Austin Zoo with Plein Air Austin, this painting of a tiger cleaning up after a hearty meal of….well I don’t know, there were pretty big bones lying there when it was done, is titled “Last Licks”. This zoo’s main attraction is that you can really see the animals. The tiger’s space wasn’t especially gorgeous, but it did have this lovely tree, and with a little imagination I blocked out everything manmade. I won’t add to this sketch. It has a simplicity that I like.
I won this easel as part of my Excellence Award from Nomadas del Arte, a national plein air show. The En Plein Air Pro was great to take on the plane as it was light and compact. Anticipating one session of painting on the trip, minimal gear was my goal… not even an umbrella. The best view at the beach was low to the ground, so I sat in the sand….less than optimal for keeping the gear free of grit. I did blend in with the surroundings well, creating more anonymity than the usual standing with umbrella above the easel.
A reader asked me what easel I use to paint on location. I definitely have my favorite, but sometimes packing for plane travel, wind speeds on location, the need for a light pack or support for a large painting panel, and the demand for shade dictate particular set ups. Very seldom do I sit while painting… it restricts my movement and slows my thoughts. I’ll share a few set up picks over the next few posts.
Near the Arizona/Utah border last summer, this lovely and wild place called to us. We just had to stop driving and get out the watercolors. I love this area for its broad and moving shapes. “Western Movement” is the first in a series I am working on created in this area. I’m giving you the sneak preview… more to be seen at a future exhibition.
