Skip to main content

 DISCOVER THE SECRET TO PAINTING EFFORTLESSLY !!!

STILL WATERS BESIDE PEW ISLAND PATHWAY

14 x 11" Oil

~~~


 

There was no breeze on this beautifully warm day at Indian Lake. Calm water and still warm air is always a nice atmosphere for pleinair. Adding to this perfect setting, I chose to limit my resources at hand.

By using a limited palette of only six colors, I was able to  

1) immediately focus on the details

2) instantly reduce my decision making, and 

3) effortlessly create unity throughout the entire painting.

Over the years, I have studied with and painted alongside many pleinair artists. They all have a unique palette. I've tried so many! Whether through books, or videos, or in person workshops with world renowned oil painters; I've been inundated with suggestions of what colors to use, what brushes and canvases are best, and a myriad of approaches. Many begin with toning the canvas, others do not. Some use lots of tubes of pigments, some use a limited palette. 

After making my way through all of this, I think I lost "my" way of painting; however I believe, with this single painting excursion, I have once again centered myself. Peace reigns.

~~~

While out in the field, I use a make-up bag with hook to carry my pigments.
 Hanging on the tri-pod, they are handy and ready.

~~~

The colors I used are: 

Titanium White (Gamblin)
Cadmium Yellow Lemon (Gamblin)
Permanent Red Medium (Rembrandt)
Ultramarine Blue Deep (any brand)
Naples Yellow Deep (Rembrandt)
Cold Gray (Rembrandt)
(Please note that the brands of the paints are very important as colors vary widely between manufacturers)

~~~

SECRETS!!!

The methods used with this limited palette are absolutely KEY to painting effortlessly "en pleinair."

First, I mix the secondaries: orange, purple and green. I dull the bright green with a bit of orange.

~~~

Having mixed basic greens that will mostly be used in the shadowed areas; I mix the sun-kissed greens by adding NAPLES YELLOW DEEP. I believe this is THE KEY for a gorgeous sun-kissed painting!

 ~~~

Most of the color mixes above are quite saturated and not far from the original tube colors. Therefore, the Rembrandt Cool Grey is essential to more subtle colors. This I believe is ANOTHER KEY to natural looking plein air paintings. 

Notice how the Cool Grey mixed with the greens de-saturates the colors. 
~~~
I hope you'll give this palette a try! Whether you are working in your studio or outdoors, I believe you will find painting easier and more joyful.
~~~
Let me know how you like it!
~~~
Please comment below





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

  SEMINOLE ISLAND CHANNEL 11 x 14" Oil We had such a pleasant early Spring day at Indian Lake! Above you can see there are no leaves on the trees yet; but, there were many other colorful and interesting things to see on this trip. While painting, I was serenaded by the geese flying and swimming in the channel area. A sweet Red Winged Blackbird stopped by to see me too! ~~~ On the trip up to the lake we were treated by a few Amish in their buggies. One in particular was downright friendly and thankful we were driving slowly around him.   See his friendly wave! ~~~ The minute we arrived at the lake, Dennis stopped in to one of his favorite bait shops. I managed a few photos. This was my favorite: ~~~ While waiting for him, I was also graced by a sweet kitty in the parking lot.   His eyes were so pretty. I didn't get a good photo of them. Hopefully he will be there next time and I can catch his pretty eyes! He was friendly though! All in all, this was a friendly, warm spring...
Post a Comment
Read more
Afternoon Tea 30 x 22" Watercolor  ~~~~~ How This was Painted; it's a long story! ~~~ Photo Reference for Afternoon Tea I set up hundreds of still life possibilities, and finally decided to start this one.  Little did I know, until I began the actual painting process, and had been at it for several weeks; did I realize how extensive this one would be. "Why?" I asked myself! "Why did I start this!?"  I can honestly say this process has been a love/hate relationship for nearly a year!  But love wins out in the end!  While painting this, the name began to form in my mind.  The painting process in "Afternoon Tea" was greatly enhanced by daily enjoying the series from Brit Box: "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" (starring Jeremy Brett), wherein many scenes involved tea being served in delicate porcelain cups such as you see in the reference photo.  Follow along below, as I recount the steps in this very involved still life. ~~~ THE BEGINNIN...
Post a Comment
Read more
SPANISH LACE Spanish Lace is quite a large painting. The cream colored teapot is from Spain. The blue and white mug next to the teapot is from Mexico. I wanted this to be the largest size watercolor painting allowed by Ohio Watercolor Society and is 36 x 23," painted on 300# Arches watercolor paper. I have entered this into the 2025 OWS competition. I'll let you know how it goes! In the meantime, I thought you might like to see the progression paintings of this one: I began with a light pencil drawing, then added some color to the top of the painting: the background fabric stripes and the teapot. ~~~   After completing the teapot, the mug and the upper background fabric; I began with the lower patterned fabric (all the time avoiding the most challenging part of this painting, the lace). ~~~ I continued this lower fabric, painting around the lace. By doing so, the lace began to appear! By more "negative painting" (painting around the lace, but not painting the lace it...
Post a Comment
Read more