Plein Air Ain't Easy

Photo of Sarvis Creek, Steamboat Springs

Artists in Colorado paint outside.  It's an unspoken rule.  And nothing is more beautiful than Steamboat Springs in the fall, with the Aspens in full glory and the misty mountains in the background.  I packed up my equipment and headed out.  But first, I thought I'd take a workshop with Dave Santillanes, one of the best landscape painters working today.  

My time with Dave in Steamboat was well spent.  He showed us how he creates atmosphere with value and color, which was a huge revelation for an indoor painter like me.  Then we went out into the field to watch him paint his "sketches" which he then brings into his studio to create larger, more finished pieces.  It was a complete eye-opener for me.

I decided to keep my outdoor sketches monochrome, working only with value to create atmosphere.  To a newbie like me, adding color this early in the game could result in disaster.

Monochrome Study, Sarvis Creek, oil on panel

It was a dry, windy day, and the cowboys were transporting horses on the road at my back.  They apologized every time they passed by, but I was happy to see them.  There's about a pound of sand and grit mixed into the paint on this one.

Color Study, Sarvis Creek, oil on panel

I took the study back to the studio and added color on top of it.  Dave encouraged us to change color and composition however we want in order to tell a story.  With this one, I emphasized the warm color in the background to suggest an early morning scene.

Well, it's a start.  If I want to do plain air well, I will have to paint many many more.

"Thunderheads", 14x11"

This summer, I've been trying to get myself out there and paint "en plein air" about once a week. I have a small group of intrepid artist friends who enjoy throwing all their gear into their cars, then strapping it on their backs and hiking around until we find just the right spot.  "Thunderheads" was going quite nicely until we were pelted by hail in an open field.

"The Marsh", 7x5" oil on canvas

"The Marsh" was painted from a rickety bridge which hovered over snapping turtles.  I decided to forgo any art supplies that fell into the water that day.

"The Pond at Horizon Farms", 7x5"

Life and limb were not in jeopardy for this little study, but I thought I'd share it because it shows my equipment and my method of first completing a little black and white sketch before I dive in with paint.  You can see it above the painting in this photo.  These sketches help me map out what I want to accomplish in my painting.  I may decide to create a larger painting of my plein air piece when I get home, or I may just leave well enough alone.

We remain undaunted, and shall continue to paint outdoors, come what may.  

Aspens in the Snow, 8x10" (Sold)

This past weekend was Parents' Weekend at both boys' schools in Colorado, so I left a few days early to paint in the Oil Painters of America's Paint Out in Woodland Park, near Pikes Peak.  The Aspens were in full color, and I was in heaven.  This being my first "away" paint out, I wasn't very well prepared!  I sat on my suitcase and balanced my painting on my knees while the wind whipped all around me.  The landscape moved me so much that I lost myself in my painting and didn't realize that I came pretty close to hypothermia one blustery morning...

Next time, I'll be ready!  Fingerless gloves are a must-- as is my easel.  I can't wait to go again!

To bid on this painting, click on Ann Feldman Aspens in the Snow.

Rain in the Woods, 8x8" (Sold)

This is the other plein air painting I completed in the rain at the Crabtree Paint Out.  A week later now, and my gear is just about dried out from the excursion!  Sure, there was some hardship involved that day, but I'm so glad that I didn't miss out on the beauty of that quiet spot.

If you would like to purchase this painting, please click on Ann Feldman Rain in the Woods.