new June & plein air classes

'How sad it is! I shall grow old, and horrid, and dreadful. But this picture will remain always young. It will never be older than this particular day of June…if it was only the other way! If it was I who were to be always young, and the picture that were to grow old! For this—for this—I would give everything! Yes, there is nothing in the world I would not give!'

Oscar Wilde

Below is a view from my studio and it is a snowball bush that has grown somewhat awry -which I quite like.

June

oil on canvas

18x24in, 2011

available

 (still a wee bit glare y, will re-shoot when dry)

I worked alla prima over an existing dark painting-played with  higher chroma and worked out some compositional divisions. I also worked on mixing new spring greys.

I have finally settled on a medium that works well (for me) when painting outdoors—  2 parts safflower oil, I part dammar varnish or Canadian balsam ( it’s expensive) and a few (use sparingly) drops of cobalt drier. I much prefer this drier  to alkyd additives and mediums like Liquin, which I have used on and off for many years. When I work outside in the warm sun I like the paint dripping wet so use lots of solvent /medium in the initial stages of laying in. As I build the painting with thicker passages, the sun and the medium tend to set up and become tactile-I love that ‘pull’ as the paint then has a beautiful plasticity.

 weekly  Plein air classes resume 

*Weekly classes in  Plein Air Painting  resume next Monday night, June 6. There are 2 openings left so if interested, please contact me. If you are new to art making this is an opportunity to engage in a nurturing,  encouraging and  informative environment. You will approach and develop techniques  including observation, composition, value, colour, brushwork and paint  handling. For practising artists, this is an opportunity to hone individual goals and push beyond your comfort level. 

A smorgasbord of inspiring subject matter is waiting for you:

gardens, vineyards, orchards, fields and amazing sky 

 

For more information about the series, click here or on the top right hand side of this blog.

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