Outdoorpainting.com asked our readers…
“What's the single greatest challenge you face in
painting outdoors?”
Our reader responses came from many Outdoor Painters
across the nation…including Oklahoma, Washington
State, Massachusetts, New York, California, Maine, Georgia
and Michigan. So many painters, no matter what their location,
have similar concerns. The first two questions are closely
connected, so I’ll answer them together…
How can I match my painting to what I am really
seeing in life?
How can I establish my painting quickly enough to successfully
capture the fleeting light?
I believe most people struggle with painting from life
for one, simple reason…inferior drawing skills.
When I talk about drawing skills, I’m referring
to drawing from life. Drawing from photographs is an ineffective
exercise that gives a false sense of accomplishment. Photo
values and colors are never accurate. In photos, the decisions
are already made for you. The only thing photos capture
is detail--which is to be avoided in good painting.
When drawing from life, your ability to quickly and accurately
judge value, color and size relationships provides the
cornerstone to good painting. The facility to do this
comes only by life drawing. There is no shortcut available
to attain this critical skill. Good drawing is about accurately
judging size and value relationships---regardless of color.
Once you master the talent of drawing accurately from
life, painting from life will only be a step away.
After all, painting is just drawing with a brush!
Armand
Cabrera
& Charles Muench
|
Many of our reader responses to the Newsletter
question were about the challenges brought about
by weather. When I’ve planned and paid
for a painting trip, I’m going to paint----except
in the most extreme conditions. Treat painting excursions
like camping in the wilderness; prepare for the worst
and hope for the best.
Wind, snow, heat, cold and rain can be challenging.
I recommend carrying a small paint box with a shoulder
strap. Sometimes called “thumb boxes”, they
allow you to work from your lap or can be hand held. With
these small boxes, you can hunker down under a tree, a
large rock or even sit in your car to paint. Among others,
Open Box M and Artwork Essentials offer this type of small
box. Check their websites on our RESOURCES
PAGE for more information.
During cold weather, use hand warmers that
are sold for fishermen and hunters. There are at least
two different kinds of warmers: 1) chemical warmers that
come in small disposable pouches. They activate when you
shake them…and 2) permanent warmers. They burn a
fuel stick or little piece of charcoal in a metal container.
You can find these at Ace
Hardware Stores.
Wind: Wind is the one element that can make
it impossible to paint outside when it is really blowing
hard. The above mentioned thumb boxes are the best solution
for wind.
Rain: Obviously, don’t use water-based
paints. If there is the chance of thunder storms---pack
it in. If it’s not raining too hard and you still
have some good lighting, stand under a tree, rock ledge,
an awning or on a porch.
Remember, you don’t always have to
paint outside. Sometimes it’s nice to hire a model
or set up a still life and paint indoors during inclement
weather. The weather will rarely be perfect, so commit
to your painting---either outdoors
Armand Cabrera
