Virtual Paintout - Lido di Jeloso

I decided to give the virtual paintout a shot. The location for this month is Lido di Jeloso. I wasn't so sure going into the process. Now that I've done it I think it is a great idea to use Google Earth for a virtual "plein air" experience. I had to "walk around" and look for a scene that I liked. Then I had to use some creativity to move things around to get a composition that I liked. Anyway, a huge shout out to Bill Guffey for running this event.

Week 4 and Final Week of Tom Brown Plein Air Class - Woodbridge

For the last week of the Tom Brown plein air class we painted at North Lake in Woodbridge Irvine. This is a great location, as were all the locations for the class. Tom Brown did a quick painting then sent us off to do our own painting. I wanted to create an area of focus by using tonal contrast and hard edges. I like the way the gazebo came out. Still don't like my trees. The picture at the bottom is of my classmates hard at work. I really enjoyed this class.

Week 3 of Tom Brown Plein Air Class - Quail Hill

We painted at the Quail Hill Preserve. We had some great weather. I tried to capture the fire house but they took off in the fire truck before I was done. All I had was a red rectangle for the fire truck so I just threw some highlights on it and left it. In the second painting I tried using greens made from lamp black. The dark came out good but I really struggled with the highlights. The people in the class were great and I had lots of fun.

Week 2 of Tom Brown Plein Air Class - San Joaquin Marsh

Second week of painting in the Plein Air class given by Tom Brown. Both paintings are on 6x8 canvas pad. We went to San Joaquin Marsh. I'm trying to work on the form of my foliage as it never seem to come out the way I'd like. I want to make the trees and bushes more "solid". I think they look thin and choppy...too many brush strokes. Anyway, the people in the class are a great and very supportive. I wasn't sure how I would like painting with a group but I am finding it quite fun. One gem from Tom Brown was to "look for the possibilities" in a painting. As an example he said if you like the top of one tree but the trunk of another, combine them in your painting. 

Citrus Ranch

I am currently enrolled in a plein air class that is being taught by Tom Brown. Tom Brown is an amazing instructor and has the knack of breaking things down into their most simple of forms. Additionally he is highly supportive and encouraging. The first week we painted at Citrus Ranch in Tustin. It stayed overcast and I tried to capture the "grayness" of the day.

Landscape after Gabor Svagrik Video

Wow, it's been so long since I last posted that I feel ashamed. But on the plus side at least I am putting something up here again.  I struggled with watercolor for two years and have come to the conclusion that it just does not resonate with the way I see things. So I am back to oil.  The whole time I've been thrashing around with watercolor my oil  skills, at least what minimal skills I had, have declined. I watched a Gabor Svagrik video then painted something similar to the demo he completed. I did it on watercolor paper because I couldn't find any canvas. Feels good to get something done.

Did some sketching at Irvine Library. There is a very cool barn there as well as some old houses.