Plein Air Painting & Potluck on the Farm

We had a lovely, sunny day for our Osher Plein Air Painting & Potluck on the Farm this year.  Artists spread out all over our farm, finding scenes to paint.

I visited the artists as they painted, offering tips and encouragement to beginners. 

We all returned to the house for a potluck lunch.  

After lunch, we wrapped up with an art show.

Each artist shared the story of where they had settled to paint and what techniques they had used.  It gave the rest of us a chance to admire each others' work.

I always learn and take inspiration from other artist's paintings.  In fact, I learned new tricks and had fresh insights into a place where I spend a lot of time.

Below is my demonstration painting that I quickly splashed in to show the steps in watercolor painting.

Many thanks to photographer David from Long Story Short Photography, and to all the artists who participated.  I hope you'll keep painting!

Watercolor Sketching

 

A simple wash or two can tell a story if you express the values you see.  This was a quick demonstration for a plein air watercolor class I held recently.

I splashed in cool and warm greens, added shadows, and incorporated the wild grasses in the field.  Finishing with Derwent Inktense pencils to express some of the weeds in the foreground, and the hickory tree gave a sense of the place. 

I may add more detail to this sketch, or I may leave it as it is, a reminder of a lovely, sunny summer day spent with other artists creating in nature.

I hope you take 15 minutes this week to sketch a scene that catches your eye!

Plein Air Painting & Potluck

 

After years of teaching art via Zoom, my students wanted to visit our farm and studio to see where the classes originated from.  We held an Osher Plein Air Painting on the Farm class on a recent Friday morning, and invited students to bring a potluck dish to share for a picnic lunch.

Our weather was lovely & sunny, and the sight of artists in folding chairs spread about the farm, painting brought me joy.  I managed time to make this quick sketch of the June trees and field.  

Our event closed out after lunch with time for sharing artworks and stories.  Wonderful to see the creativity of everyone gathered there.