|
I've been painting landscapes outdoors for nearly 50 years now.
And I love it more than any other type of painting. Why? and is it any different to painting in the studio? Well, I love to be out in the open, I love the landscape - the skyscapes, land shapes, the animals, trees, buildings, lakes, rivers, seas, the man-made world of house, villages, rooflines, and fences, roads and telephone poles - I know that not everyone likes these poles, but I do. And outdoor painting - that is, painting 'en plein air' - is very different to painting in the studio. In the studio, you can control everything - the setup, the lighting, your seating, your privacy, your ambient sounds or silence - like listening to music or the news channels on radio. And it's reliable and constant for as long as your painting session lasts - and you control that. Whereas outdoors, so many things change and are outside your control - the weather, the direction of light from the sun, the people/cars/trucks/boats etc that block your view or enter or leave your painting scene. It's a challenge knowing what to include - everything you see, or do you select certain things - and can you change things around to suit your canvas size, or your creative imagination? Boats float in the water-filled harbour when you arrive, you set up and draw them, then, by the time you start to paint them, the tide has gone out and all the boats are tilted in different directions. And the sun is behind you now, and all the shadows have changed. And then there's peoples' curiosity and instant critiques of your work - though that's usually complimentary from my experience. You've to handle people watching over your shoulder, getting closer, asking permission to take your photo and the painting, or worse still there's those folk who sneakily take lots of photos from a distance without permission. None of that happens in your studio. I remember my first time painting out, on the pier in Howth while taking lessons from Henry Healy RHA, and being so engrossed in all the challenges that I didn't realise there had formed a semi-circle of about 12 strollers watching my every stroke! But when I looked around, I froze! And I then resumed painting without any awareness of what I was doing - my mind was on that judgemental semi-circle behind me. However, I got over it, and soon became 'sold' on outdoor painting and its joys - the sheer pleasure of being able to capture an artist's view of what most people mightn't notice, bringing home a new painting, perhaps not fully finished but well on the way. And this voyage of landscape painting has brought me to paint in many parts of Ireland, and in France, Italy - including Sicily and Sardinia, and the USA. By the time I was competent enough to share my skills, about 20 years ago, I brought and taught art groups to/in Roundstone, Cong, Cross, Athlone, Portmarnock, Charlestown, Kilrush, and overseas in Umbria, South of France and Sardinia. Outdoor painting has rewarded my curiosity with so many wonderful memories and experiences, and gifted me lifelong friendships. Tell me about your experiences, or ask me any questions you might have about Landscape painting - En Plein Air - I'd love to hear from you through this blog. Thanks for reading this. John
0 Comments
I've shown below the equipment, materials and personal clothing and skin and health protection items you need when painting 'en plein air' - outdoors! It's important to have everything you'll need during the days painting, so study this list carefully. Painting outdoors is absolutely a wonderful way to spend time but it's important to bring all the essential stuff with you - usually you're within a few yards of where you can park your car, so even if you make a couple of journeys, it's worth having everything with you. You'll need the following items if painting in oils - there's a different list for acrylic - which is not yet uploaded on this site. Spiral bound small sketchpad to work out your composition, and your light & dark areas - thumbnail sketches A couple of pencils - at least 2B, maybe 4B and 6B to give strong deep dark shaded shapes Light Outdoor Easel - there's many types - wooden and metal - a table easel is not suitable Canvas boards - various sizes but not too large - from 6 by 8 to 14 by 18 inches is usually the range. At least one per day of the workshop. Paints - I've shown the minimum range I usually bring with me. Half used tubes are lighter to carry Brushes - I've shown a selection, from large (about 1 inch) to small for details (size 2) Palette - for laying out your paints, and for mixing paints; I use a light hardboard palette; you can use the disposable pad type though if you're holding them in your hand all day, the support cardboard tends to warp and it becomes difficult to hold. The disposable type is best left on a light folding table. Painting Mediums - I use Turpentine outdoors, and Sansodor indoors - to thin the paint as an underpainting or first quick coating of paint. I use a little Liquin for when I'm using thicker paint in the middle to later stages - to help quick drying and it also is easier to 'push' the paint around while still holding its 'thickness'. Double Cups or Dipper - for holding your turpentine and liquin on your palette for immediate mixing at all times. Small Jar for cleaning brushes - A screwcap lid is essential. You put turpentine in this jar and keep it beside your palette, and use it when rinsing brushes while you paint. Larger jar for Used Turpentine - Pour dirty turps from your small jar during the day and keep your used dirty turps for bringing home in this larger jar Small cotton cloths or kitchen towels - for wiping paint off your brushes before cleaning in turps. Small, light folding stool - it gets tiring standing at your easel all day, and sometimes there isn't a low wall to sit on Small, light, folding table - not essential, but it avoids you having to stoop down on the ground for accessing your stuff all day long Plastic bag to take home your rubbish those dirty cloths, kitchen towels, lunch wrapping etc. We always leave the locations as we found it. Large Carrying Bag or preferably Rucksack - to carry all the smaller items above; you can carry the easel, stool and table separately. I've also shown the range of clothing/weather gear I bring with me - no point in pretending, sometimes the Irish weather can be changeable so be prepared for light wind and short showers - if it's worse than that, we head home. Warm feet, warm legs, warm torso and warm neck and head are really important when painting for hours outdoor. A wide brim hat shades the sun and helps your observation; suncream is essential and occasionally you'll find midges are attracted to you - so midge spray comes in handy. I use a very old pair of golf overalls for showery/windy weather, a light jumper, good socks and strong shoes; I also have a neck-warmer or neckerchief, and also (not shown) a wooly hat as a cool wind can be very debilitating when standing still, painting. Having said all that, most days you won't need to wear these extra items - just your usual casual clothing with perhaps a jumper on top. For sustenance during the day - please bring a small flask for hot water, a mug, tea or coffee, spoon, sugar or whatever you mix (if anything), a tiny bottle with milk perhaps, sandwiches, biscuits, and fruit as you like. It's amazing how revived you'll feel after a light lunch. With all that sorted - you're ready to paint your masterpiece!! Good Luck!!!! See below for pictures of all this equipment Coronavirus Safety Protocols on my Painting WorkshopsThe coronavirus pandemic has meant a completely changed approach to my workshops in 2020. Everyone is nervous about returning to normal, and nothing is absolutely guarenteed, but we all are keen to try to get back to normal. For everyone's safety, the following protocols will be in place for all my west of Ireland workshops from June 2020. I'm sure you'd want to only attend a workshop if you yourself were feeling healthy and well, and that all the other participants were the same. And the teacher! And anyone else involved. Well, that's what's guided us in our Health and Safety approach re the coronavirus. The guiding principle for the protocols is simple - we aim to have - only apparently healthy people join the workshop each day (including me the teacher and any assistant I use) - a reduced number of participants if necessary - to enable safe distancing or 2 metres. - a simple health questionnaire and temperature check will be mandatory before entry to the workshop each day and is a condition of joining the workshop. - strict cleanliness and sanitising procedures in place - safe distancing while painting, and in group sessions where 2 metres may not be possible, masks must be worn. At present, I've re-located all my Cross and Roundstone workshops so that at least 2 metres WILL be possible. These workshops will now be held in the vast Cong Community Centre and the Roundstone Community Centre Halls respectively. - I will wear a full face visor when giving one-to-one guidance to artists and at any other time when 2 metre distancing may not be possible, such as giving group tuition. - Regular cleaning of toilets and washbasins will be in place - Where lunch is offered, individual lunches will be prepared and packed based on prior individual choice from a limited selection. Persons with special food needs are asked to bring their own lunch. - Participants are asked to bring their own mug, spoon, plate and flask for hot water which will be provided. Otherwise, hot drinks will be served in disposable cups. - Sanitising liquids, masks and plastic gloves will be available in the workshop studio and to participants who need them throughout the day. Full face visors are also available if required. I think these protocols will give us the best possible chance of having a safe painting workshop, and I hope you'll consider joining me on one of them. See my website for details, and email me in the first instance to check there's an available place on your desired workshop. [email protected] I also run workshops in Enniskerry near Dublin at the Schoolhouse for Art - and they have their own safety protocols - check with them at schoolhouseforart.com and also for bookings for their workshops Image below shows the hand sanitiser, mask and plastic gloves - ignore the other items in this pic. I also have a temperature checking 'gun', and full face visor. |
RSS Feed