Plein Air Painting: Field of Corn

Plein Air Painting: Hay Bales

Plein Air: Late Afternoon Pond

Meaford Landscape #2

Meaford Landscape #1

Ontario Plein Air Society Exhibition

The inaugural show of The Ontario Plein Air Society was a smashing success, with $7,040 in sales (including one of mine) and a steady flow of interested visitors throughout the weekend.

J.E.H. MacDonald House - 8"x10", oil on panel

This is the former home of one of The Group of Seven, renowned plein air landscape painters in Canada.

You can view this piece of work, along with many other landscape paintings, in person, at the upcoming exhibition of The Ontario Plein Air Society, 121 Centre Street in Thornhill, Ontario (with parking on Brook Street southeast of the house) from November 12-14, 2010.

The opening festivities are on Friday, November 12, 2010 from 6-9 pm. Saturday the hours are 10-8 and Sunday from 10-5. This is a great opportunity to pick up some original art at a great price - fabulous for gifts!

Beachscape #2 - 5x7, oil on canvas panel

Impressionistic palette knife sketch of Georgian Bay.

I was attempting to capture the correct color and light key.

Sorolla inspired painting in progress. The girl on your right is further along, at least her upper half!

Color Block-In for this Sorolla inspired painting. I am still just trying to keep the light and shadow separated, but adding some of the local color and with the influence of warm sunlight giving the piece the correct feel and light key.

My other homemade cigar box pochade holds a 6x8 panel. I use this one on my lap or on a table.

Here is a shot of the back of the box with the small piece of wood I glued on to support the lid.

Studio Painting Based on Plein Air Sketch - 16x20, oil on canvas

If you scroll down, you will see the small plein air sketch I based this larger painting on. I have to say, it came together very quickly.

Another Studio Painting Based on Plein Air Sketch - 16x20, oil on canvas

Plein Air Sketch #7 - Early Morning - 10x8, oil on canvas panel

Early Morning

This was a magical spot where the stillness created beautiful reflections in the water. I started out painting on a wooden pier but had to change positions due to light on my painting. I then moved back into the shade, but my painting fell face first off the dock, narrowl missing the water.

After climbing down and retrieving it, I moved to a third location. A short time after I began, the wind came up, a boat roared by and the scene changed completely. All part of the joys and tribulations of plein air painting!

Oil Sketch #5 - Through The Trees, Late Afternoon - 8x10, oil on canvas panel

I liked the interesting pattern of the trees and the gorgeous light glowing through at the end of the day.

Plein Air Sketch #4 - Early Morning - 8x10, oil on canvas panel

When I got back indoors after painting this sketch, I became aware that glare from the strong sunlight and wearing dark lenses had caused me to misjudge the values. I had to lighten things up after the fact. Lesson learned: No sunglasses, bring a hat and make sure you have shade for your palette and support!

Plein Air Sketch #3 - Morning on the River - 10x8, oil on canvas panel

Here is a lesson for all you painters - when you are using your plein air sketch to work from in the studio, make sure it does not get sprayed with tiny specks of white paint as I did here :(

Plein Air Sketch #2 - 8x10, Oil on Panel

Just before the sun went down, it went behind some clouds and I quickly scrubbed in this impression.

Oasis - 8x10, oil on canvas panel

Ah, what could be better than an oasis in the desert.  Here we are at Agua Caliente in the morning, a pleasant park in north Tucson, Arizona.

This was painted on a gorgeous and sunny but very chilly day and turned out to be the last painting I did during the workshop.  Unfortunately, we ended up painting value studies on the afternoon of the final day, after watching a demonstration that morning.  Doing value studies at that point seemed a bit backward to my mind, as I was pumped to do a stunning masterpiece at that point!   We had a great afternoon despite this slight disappointment, as we enjoyed a sheltered, warm and sunny location in Catalina State Park with stunning views of spectacular mountains!