Plein Air Painting

(C) 2017 Dale DiMauro

The plein air painting that I have been doing this summer is evolving. At first it was a challenge to focus on one aspect of a natural scene before me without overcomplicating it. In addition, there are time constraints and the ever changing light when one works outside. Recently, I have adopted an approach where once I set up my equipment to paint, a photograph is taken, so that the watercolor can be completed at home. That way I have a reference particularly as Winter is around the corner.

When working outside I have learned to work from the top of the sheet down with a little angle to the surface. This way I can manipulate the pigment to move in ways that I intend it too. Sometimes this includes pigments blending with each other as in creating the wash for the sky.

Not only have I been refining my painting approach but my outdoor painting equipment has evolved too. When driving in town I take a mental note of desirable places to paint. If there is a picnic table nearby then all I need is my shoulder bag worth of painting supplies. I have acquired various easels which set-up quickly and enable me to stand without holding anything. The above plein air was started on an easel yesterday in Keene, NH. It took me all of ten minutes to install my easel. 

This summer in Maine I purchased a Winsor & Newton watercolor block which this was painted on. This is the first time I have used this paper in a block form. I really like the texture of the paper and am gaining a feel for some of the affects I can achieve with this surface.