Bringing the Everyday to Life

One More Half Day of Painting  Before the Plein Air Convention...

Monday morning I explored more of the Monterey area.  A friend of mine drove me along the coast and we stopped a couple times to paint some seaside scenes.  I have not painted the ocean very much, so this was a new experience for me.  I found it challenging and fun!  I love how the color of the water changes depending on time of day and weather.  I knew that, but it was neat to actually see it.  I think if I were really going to study the ocean, I would need to spend a couple months painting.  However, I only had a couple days.  I loved the rocky shores of Monterey, it reminded me of the Oregon coast a little.  It was a grey morning, so the water was grey but it was great to see all the birds trying to sit on top of a couple rocks.  They seemed to group together.  The second painting has a real feeling of Monterey.  The ice plants were in full bloom and that color is so beautiful and unique.  The Ice Plant Path seems so inviting to me... 

Sharing Space

Watercolor 

12" x 10"

The Excitement of the Convention Finally Started...

You could feel the excitement as more and more people started arriving at the Convention Center.  The Opening Ceremony was buzzing and electric as Eric Rhodes got everyone pumped up for the coming week.  I am not going to share everything that happened in a blow-by-blow play.  That would probably be pretty boring.  Instead, I am going to share some of my favorite presentations that I attended.

John P. Lasater IV and Jason Sacran Discussed Painting Nocturnes:

Tuesday afternoon I got to watch John P. Lasater IV and Jason Sacran each paint a nocturne scene demonstration.  They were not only very entertaining to listen to, because they are clearly good friends, they gave some great tips for painting night scenes.  I have been wanting to try night scenes for a while and so this was particularly useful.  They of course are both oil painters, but I was still able to learn a lot.  For example, they mentioned that edges are softer at night and the mid-tone colors are transparent.  Also, that the chroma of lights is really important to get right.  Lights are not just white, they are warm or cool and have a color (or chroma).  They also did night painting demos on Tuesday and Wednesday evening, but I was unable to attend.  I will have to try it on my own!  Here is one I tried by studying another artist, Mike Barr...

Eric Wiegardt Revealed Secrets to Painting Loose:

I really enjoyed watching Eric paint.  He uses more bright and pure colors than I do, but I loved how he used his colors.  He actually drew a quick drawing on his watercolor paper with a brush in a yellow-orange color.  Then as he painted on top, the warmth of the yellow blended nicely with the cool colors he was adding on top.  It was great!  Something I would love to play with.  I have a good quote from him..."As you paint, just look at the problem and try to solve it.  Don't think about the success of the painting."   I have said something like it before.  It is so true and it helps to take the pressure of trying to paint a masterpiece off.  Here is another great quote, "20 years ago I couldn't paint the way I do today and I can't paint today how I did 20 years ago."  It is important to recognize your progress and to recognize that you couldn't have done what you do today, but you also can't do what you did before...  

Well, I am signing off for now.  I have more great stuff to share with you later!  

Until Next Time!

Brienne

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