Back from 2 weeks at Haliburton School for the Arts and all the better for it...
I have two classes in oils where we head out on the Haliburton Highlands and tackle rocks and trees and rivers and lakes and buildings in the landscape. It's way too much fun and given that we are doing two paintings a day, the learning curve gets a serious nudge in a positive direction.
The amazing staff there organize some 3000 students through the college every summer in classes from skate board design to sumei in a gorgeous setting.
Plein air is process driven. Setting changes as light moves. Its all about the light for me. Build your composition around and understanding the light movement through the elements of your composition. That process of feeling your way through a composition with an understanding of the steps knowing where you're headed is most important. The brush work and the colour mixing need to feel effortless and beautiful in what they describe for a successful canvas.
Process begins with a break up of space with 3 to 5 chunks of value which by themselves are interesting. Dark values are the structure that contains the mid- values. Light values are then placed last. The process I use is building towards the light paint and giving it a place where value and colour can resinate and project itself.
Efficiency is important. Don't put things down that you'll have to replace. When you are chasing the light, there is no time for that.
A little bravery in the colour and brush work projects a confidence that energizes the canvas. Overworking and excessive detail does the opposite.
So go for it!
Charles Hawthorne said to make many beginnings... good advice. If you focus on a masterpiece, good luck.
Its way more fun and rewarding to enjoy the process. Go for the simplicity, clarity and joy of the moment.
Enjoy!
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