 | Visual Voyages |
| | | |
| |  |
What is Plein Air Painting? It's a French term meaning painting outdoors. This style of painting is fun and can usually be accomplished in one sitting, although many artists finish their work back at the studio. Plein air painting is usually done in watercolor, oils, pastels, and occasionally in acrylics (although drying too fast can be a problem outdoors!) Cameras are also a good way of capturing the moment and painting from photos later on is always an option.
  
A couple of years ago, Sharon established a group of committed painters that gather about once per month to paint together in some local spot out of doors. The group has been dubbed "The Painted Ladies" for a number of reasons (although a few gentlemen join us often as well!) We do tend to "flit" around the area much like our butterfly namesakes, and we are...well, painters...you get it!
 
The group does mix socializing with painting and often picnic lunches (with and without local wine!) often occur. We've also been known to take the afternoon off to sit in the garden and smell the roses! These sessions are informal and free, and Sharon is available for consultation, but usually also paints along with the group.
Occasionally, Sharon will also hold special Plein Air Workshops for a small fee where students review how to select a view, develop a composition, identify the mass shapes of value and color, establish color harmonies, capture aerial perspective and believable light. On those occasionas, emphasis will be on loose, expressive “alla prima style” (finishing a painting in one sitting) while supporting each painter’s individual style. Sharon's easygoing, common sense approach will encourage and inspire.
Acrylics Plein Air Painting Checklist:
• A selection of acrylic paints
• At least one brush
• Bottle of water
• Cup for washing brushes
• Paper towel or cloth for wiping brushes on
• Palette
• Paper, boards, or canvas
• If necessary, an empty bottle for pouring dirty paint water into, for disposable back home.
Tips: • Consider using pieces of primed canvas which you tape to a board (foamboard weighs the least), then roll up when the painting is dry. Back home you can stretch them onto stretcher bars or glue them down onto a board.
• A disposable paper palette makes cleaning up easy.
• A moisture-retaining palette with a solid lid makes it easy to transport your paints.
Checklist for Non-Painting Plein Air Essentials:
• It's easy to get caught up in what you're doing and end up sitting in the sun for an extended period, sometimes over the hottest part of the day, so remember to take some sunscreen and a sunhat.
• Dress in layers that you can easily take off as you get hot (and put on when it gets colder).
• If it's cold, take a windproof jacket as you won't be moving around much.
• Fingerless gloves help keep your fingers warm while still giving you good motion and grip.
• Something to sit on, such as a small cushion or a beach towel. Consider taking a fold-up stool or chair if you know there's not going to be a convenient rock or wall to sit on and you don't want to sit on the ground.
• Some water to drink (don't rinse your brushes in it!) or a flask with coffee or tea (hot chocolate!) if it's cold.
• Wear neutral colored clothing (creams, beiges) rather than white which can reflect too much light onto your painting or bright colors which can reflect some of their color onto your painting.
• Insect repellent.
• A bag to put rubbish in, such as dirty pieces of paper towel.
• A large plastic bag can be useful as an emergency rain shield.
• A flash light if you're going to be painting through sunset.
• A camera is useful for recording the scene in case you want to finish or work on the painting back in your studio.
 
Please feel free to join us by calling Sharon for meeting times and dates!
MARYHILL MUSEUM AND WINERY TRIP! SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2010
Hello Painters! Please join me for a trip to explore Maryhill Museum and Winery in Goldendale, WA, on Saturday, June 26th.
At 9:00 AM we will meet to caravan/carpool our way to the Maryhill Museum of Fine art located in the Maryhill Mansion. The art ranges from early 20th century European works to an extensive Native American collection. Set in a castle-like chateau on a stunning 6,000-acre site overlooking the scenic Columbia River Gorge, Maryhill Museum is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most fascinating cultural destinations and located just 100 miles east of Portland, Oregon. The museum’s permanent collection includes more than 80 sculptures and watercolors by the French master Auguste Rodin. The sculpture garden, complete with peacocks on the grounds, will be fun to explore as well. During our visit there will be a special William Morris traveling exhibit on display as well. Box lunches can be purchased at the museum if you don't want to bring your own. The entrance fee is $7, $6 for Seniors.
 
The drive is approximately 1 1/2 - 2 hours long, so we will shoot for an 11:00 AM arrival to explore a bit there before heading over to Maryhill Winery - a short 0.7 mile away. There we will indulge in wine tasting, lunch, taking photos of the breathtaking view from the tasting room, and painting on site, or just relaxing and listening to music. This is a great day trip with enough adventure for spouses or significant others if they want to come along. Plenty to see and do!
After lunch, we can set up to paint, take pictures, or sketch and enjoy the free live music of Kit Garoutte, a blues guitarist from 1-5 in the tasting room. He states his musical influences have ranged from Paul Simon, Crosby, Stills and Nash, and James Taylor to Jim Hall, Wes Montgomery, Earl Klugh and George Benson.
There will be no concert in the ampitheater that evening, so the tasting room and grounds will be open the entire time, so we can take our time and make a day of it. There is no workshop fee as this is mostly a social gathering and a chance to explore together. There is a fee for tasting and lunch can be purchased at the winery or at the museum if desired...or you can bring a picnic lunch if so desired.
Please RSVP by June 15th if you plan to come along! It should be fun!
 |
|
| |
| |
|
