Out in Nature

  Ahh…….” Come paint plein air” I would hear, or “I love to paint plein air”, but I had only painted on my back deck and I knew nothing of the equipment needed, the concepts for outdoor color and how light changes drastically, or what essential light-weight art supplies to own --- which you have to carry. 

Last fall I when I saw an ad for plein air instruction in Provence, France that read something like “come learn to paint out in the meadows and hill towns of the South of France, enjoy the comradery of fellow artists -- all meals and ALL wine included!”  I love Van Gogh, and one of the day tours included St Paul Hospital where he spent his last years of his life. I just HAD to sign up. Of course, it turned out to be a wonderful trip to remember and I learned to paint plein air!

The research started : what to buy, how to fly with oil paints, how to pack it all, what not to take. The instructor was great. He told us how to prepare our canvases ahead of the trip and to bring them, that we would need a journal, and what colors to bring … (like not all your paints!) and, he only wanted us to use three brushes. (Small ones not allowed). 

The rewards are immense, but the work involved can not be under estimated. 

On the practical side, one must be physically fit to carry all your stuff. Second, you must stay hydrated if you are painting all day. Thirdly, you must be friendly. 😊……… People will stop, observe you paint, talk to you and tell you’re their great second aunt also paints. Most tell you “wow, c’est tres bon”, when you know its not. But any compliment is good for the soul on a hot day.

On the artistic side, be careful what you select to paint, try to be specific on an object or scene or something unique…. Not the whole countryside. Go early in the day or late afternoon to capture the best light source and the shadows. Do a quick thumb sketch focusing on the light and the darks. TAKE A PICTURE, in case you don’t finish. Paint quickly. Do not cry when your instructor says you have the lights and shadows all wrong because he walks by to see how you are doing 3 hours after you started. Try not to get alarmed or distracted when a bride (in full wedding dress) and her new husband, whiz-by on a motorcycle on the narrow stone road you are standing on with all your “stuff”.

Well,  my courtyard of St Paul was totally out of proportion and the light all wrong, the translucent colors of the hanging laundry came out OK, and I like my painting of the porcelain goods on the merchants window, but I did finish that in my studio in peace and quiet – and sipping wine. I learned a lot, made new friends, and have great pictures for future painting endeavors.

Save your money and invested it in a trip of a life time – plein air abroad!