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Monday, April 21, 2008

Plein Air Day Paintings and Photos

Regina Burchett and I made it to McKinney Roughs for a plein air painting day. I highly recommend going out and painting plein air. It is good for your eye, like sketching. You have to work quickly as the light changes so rapidly. We painted a couple of hours on each painting. The paintings have a freshness that you can't get when you paint in the studio. When you work quickly, you put down fewer strokes and use color and value to separate and define objects. You improve with practice.

We were not prepared for hiking any distance so we decided to paint right near the entrance. It is a beautiful area, but not much of a view right at the main buildings. We chose a pond to paint. I did not get a photo of our paintings in progress or of Regina's paintings at all. We were too excited about being out painting I suppose. Other than the heat today we had a good time. By noon it was about 85 degrees and warm in the protected area with only a slight breeze. The photos of the paintings are not great, I took them with the flash at home, so the colors are not quite right.


I painted across the pond to the entrance road. (Regina painted the pond itself.) It was very overcast when we started so there are not many defined shadows. The painting in real life looks more like that. Later when the sun came out the scene was more dramatic with the path in and out of sunlight. It would be fun to do again earlier in the morning or late in the evening.



This view is very nice. It was pretty cloudy to start with and then it got hot and sunny.



For my second effort, I painted the flowers close up and Regina painted the distant trees and clouds.



The yellow bells and wine cups.






During our break time we noticed this butterfly and dragon fly.

7 comments:

"JeanneG" said...

I like both your paintings. And I can handle critters like those. That dragonfly is hanging onto that stalk for dear life. At least that's what it looks like. It's funny. I have never seen one that close.

Jo Castillo said...

Jeanne, both the dragonfly and the butterfly seemed to just pose quietly. I may have been able to get even closer. Weird.

Thanks on the paintings. Always fun to try.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Jo: Nice job on the paintings and the and the photos. It looks like a nice place to be.

Bag Blog said...

The plein air painting looks like it was great fun. It has been so windy here that I cannot imagine trying to paint outside.

Jo Castillo said...

fishing guy, it is a nice place. Miles of hiking trails. And, I stay off the computer for a whole day!

bag blog, it was perfect out. We have had wind but nothing like you get. :)

Joan said...

I agree with you about the benefits of painting in plein air! Nice job on both of these. There is always a certain freshness when you're out there. It's great that you had someone to go out with and share the experience.

Jo Castillo said...

Thanks, Joan. I know you sketch and paint from life all the time. Your work demonstrates the benefits so well. :)


About Me

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Bastrop, Texas, United States
I Grew up in a small town , Magdalena, New Mexico. I enjoy art and the pleasure other people get from my work. I always donate some of my sales and art to charities, especially for children. That started in Bolivia with Para los NiƱos. "I cannot pretend to feel impartial about colors. I rejoice with the brilliant ones and am genuinely sorry for the poor browns." -- Winston Churchill

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