Tag Archives: plein air

Ventura Plein Air Invitational

Posted on by Laura
09 Sep

{recent plein air work at Crystal Cove State Beach}

I’m incredibly honored to have been invited to participate in the Venture Plein Air Invitational this month, September 25th through October 2nd. As I get prepared I’m starting to feel excited (and a little nervous too!).

One of the energizing things about painting outside is the intensity of focus and efficiency needed to capture one’s subject in a short amount of time (two to three hours, usually) and in ever-changing conditions (shifting light, wind and weather, passers-by).

A plein air painting invitational takes all these things and amplifies them. It’s partly an extended, sprawling paint-out where fellow painters encourage and sharpen one’s work. It’s partly a sporting event where everyone is “on,” working to produce the best body of work we can in the space of a few days.

I’m prepping my canvasses and packing my bags for an adventure exploring Ventura and pushing myself to produce the best work I can during the week. If you’re in the area come check it out! There will a number of events open to the public including the final show during ArtWalk on October 1st and 2nd. See the website for more details:

Ventura Plein Air Invitational

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Hope to see you there!

 

Evening Etude

Posted on by Laura
18 Aug

 “Evening Etude”

9×12

oil on linen

I live in a beautiful place that often feels overrun by people and cars and freeways.

It can be difficult to find undeveloped spaces. I think this challenge speaks to one of the gifts that art can be to all of us who have to fight for time and space, for peace and reflection.

Painting these places and moments encourages me to seek out and appreciate the beauty around me, take the time to notice and give thanks for this land and light.

This painting is one of several studies I’ve done recently of Crystal Cove State Park, a strip of wild land between Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar that looks much the same now as it did a hundred years ago when William Wendt and his contemporaries painted here.

“Evening Etude” is available now at Forest and Ocean Gallery in Laguna Beach as a part of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association’s exhibit – Inspired by Van Gogh.

Fun with Gouache

Posted on by Laura
18 Jul

{Agapanthus at Villa del Sol}

I’ve been having a lot of fun lately doing small paintings in gouache,
inspired by James Gurney’s recent posts and videos.

I can fit everything I need into a little bag and can complete a little sketch in whatever time I have, whether it’s 20 minutes or two hours.

My watercolor kit includes a travel set of transparent watercolors, tubes of gouache (lemon yellow, cad yellow, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, viridian, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and permanent white), a few paintbrushes, a homemade palette, watercolor pencils, a pen, and a moleskine watercolor sketchbook. (Just add water!)

{Summer Reading}

I can pull out my things and be set up in minutes. I’m loving the way the opaque color gives me flexibility in how I build the painting. In this small format I can experiment and play around with different subject matter and different combinations of media.

{Classic Hume Lake}

(right detail)

(left detail)

{Keeping Watch}

{Boats at Rest}

I highly recommend checking out James Gurney’s blog, Gurney Journey. He has all kinds of clever and inspirational ideas for those who want to take their painting and sketching outside and work from life. So much fun!

A Disruption of Distraction {Painting up the California Coast}

Posted on by Laura
17 Jun

I recently returned from a beautiful trip up the California coast to Cambria, a quaint town just off Highway 1. Beautiful rolling hills, dramatic cliffs, and wonderful light provided plenty of inspiration for painting. Here are a few of my sketches from the trip.

 {North side of Morro Rock}

8×10

oil on linen

{Evening Light at Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, Cambria}

12×12

oil on linen

(Sold)

I’m still working (as I suppose I always will) to get better, to practice, practice, practice, and thinking about why I paint. There is something crucial about capturing the world truthfully, about communicating that arresting moment of seeing something that causes one

to stop,

to focus,

and to appreciate the beauty of the world.

Some scenes are more naturally picturesque than others, but it’s not about recording the postcard views. I’m trying to share my experience of the feeling of a place, to bring that home and into my life and hopefully others’ lives too.

Painting as a disruption of our distraction.

Beauty to counteract our busyness.