So it begins... my Plein Air Season in Des Moines! It was a grey, cold misty morning when I arrived to the site where my new group gathered. They were troopers of intent to paint the landscape of Saltwater state park but while most of the members were on the beach I found the hardy leader, Sylvia, painting the creek.
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| Sylvia painting the creek. |
I set up gear when struck by an intriguing composition. With the skies grey I had little change in the lighting. Unfortunately the rain moved in and my proceeding land masses, stacked in the distance, began to disappear. By the time the rain came to shore I had the composition and basic color notes so fudged in the boulders and foreground before my ponche box began to hold water.
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From direct painting to studio study
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This year in my efforts, it is my desire to attempt to use the direct pieces done en plein air as sketches for "studio work" that I may or may not finish back on site. As seen in this study I am changing the composition slightly while pushing the underpainting towards a tonal yet complementary warm/cool study. Whether I add spot color for the greens will depend upon what a few sessions creates. G.A.- plein air fever broken.
