This post is from one of our gallery artists, sharing her recent painting workshop experience. The term Plein Air refers to painting outdoors and in the moment. Enjoy.
Last week-end I traveled to St. Simons, GA to participate in a three day workshop with artists from the Plein Air Painters of the Southeast (PAP-SE). Each day, we chose one of 2 instructors and painted en plein air (french term meaning in the open air).
What a wealth of information I received from master plein air painters. Saturday, Armand Cabrera led our group of 18 through exercises in painting moss draped oaks and beautiful marshes. As storm clouds loomed in the distance, we painted our 2nd painting of the day. A downpour had us running for cover.
Armand gave an interesting demonstration about reflected light and how it affects our paintings. Sunday, our large group gathered around Dee Beard Dean as she demonstrated her technique painting the St. Simon's lighthouse and keepers cottage. The clouds that rolled in made for interesting compositions. My painting of the oil house in the shade of a palm tree (see below) capitalized on all the information I absorbed from Dee.
Monday, we hung out at the pier with Larry Moore (president of PAP-SE) and practiced drawing on canvas with one color, concentrating on values rather than color. After drawing, we added color and I got a good one of a trellis with shimmering light in the background that draws you in.
Although we were pretty exhausted, a few of us die hards tried to paint the sunset over the marsh. Tried is the operative word. Blinded by the setting sun, I painted intuitively and got a quick study in before the sun disappeared.
Last week-end I traveled to St. Simons, GA to participate in a three day workshop with artists from the Plein Air Painters of the Southeast (PAP-SE). Each day, we chose one of 2 instructors and painted en plein air (french term meaning in the open air).
What a wealth of information I received from master plein air painters. Saturday, Armand Cabrera led our group of 18 through exercises in painting moss draped oaks and beautiful marshes. As storm clouds loomed in the distance, we painted our 2nd painting of the day. A downpour had us running for cover.
Armand gave an interesting demonstration about reflected light and how it affects our paintings. Sunday, our large group gathered around Dee Beard Dean as she demonstrated her technique painting the St. Simon's lighthouse and keepers cottage. The clouds that rolled in made for interesting compositions. My painting of the oil house in the shade of a palm tree (see below) capitalized on all the information I absorbed from Dee.
Monday, we hung out at the pier with Larry Moore (president of PAP-SE) and practiced drawing on canvas with one color, concentrating on values rather than color. After drawing, we added color and I got a good one of a trellis with shimmering light in the background that draws you in.
Although we were pretty exhausted, a few of us die hards tried to paint the sunset over the marsh. Tried is the operative word. Blinded by the setting sun, I painted intuitively and got a quick study in before the sun disappeared.
Energized by all we had learned, Tuesday we stopped in Darien, GA on our way home. Marshes and shrimp boats drew our attention and begged to be painted. After a quick study, we embarked on the long drive home.
I'm looking forward to doing it all again.
To view some of Ann's artworks currently at the gallery click on this link: http://www.spectrumartandjewelry.com/Anne_Hair.html
