{"id":22695,"date":"2024-05-05T17:21:45","date_gmt":"2024-05-05T23:21:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beardogco.com\/theroadhome\/?p=22695"},"modified":"2024-05-05T17:21:45","modified_gmt":"2024-05-05T23:21:45","slug":"second-half-pleinairpril","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beardogco.com\/theroadhome\/2024\/05\/second-half-pleinairpril\/","title":{"rendered":"Second half Pleinairpril"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As noted in the previous post, I simplified my painting subjects … mostly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first day after regrouping, I painted my front door :) ! I liked the result and more importantly, I gained a bit of confidence. Also, a break from going out and about as I set up just off my front porch so could step inside and have a cup of tea waiting for layers to dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s the thing with watercolor … it is layers and if not left to dry, the result can be a mess. I was rushing things when painting from the back of the Jeep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, in addition to keep things simpler, I slowed down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, I had days when I thought … “I have made no progress at all!”, i.e. I am not getting even a little better!! And days when I thought … “I am getting worse!”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yesterday (5\/4\/2024), I watched a video by one of my YouTube artist favorites and a Pleinairpril motivator: SarahBurnsStudio. Sarah is originally from the United States (Colorado). She married a Scot and has lived in Scotland for the last 7 plus years. She has been a professional artist for at least 10 years and went to art school … in her video of “5 really important things she learned from Pleinairpril” (this is her 3rd), she notes that the “no progress\/regression” angst is common to all artists, including herself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was kind of funny … the weather in Scotland seemed to mimic the weather here in Northwest Montana … rain, snow, sleet, sun (minimal) and repeat. She had her share of painting out her house and\/or car windows!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, as in the first half … I had ok, bad and downright awful results. I struggled some days with deciding what and where to paint. BUT, as soon as I started, I got lost in the process and even with frustrating results, I enjoyed. And I learned!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest things I learned was to slow down, to observe and to think a bit before dipping a brush into the paint. For me, observation and really seeing shapes and colors and proportion … vs painting (or drawing) what I “think” is there is challenging. For example, a cup is round, right? Well, yes from the top down, but not from an angle. And that goes for structures and landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started using a bit of a trick … when I got things really wrong, I would print my reference photo … I always took a photo of what I intended to paint … and trace. Then compare the trace to my painting to see where I went wrong. I did a couple of “second try” paintings after doing that to teach myself. Some progress and I know that it will take a LOT of practice to get better at observation and translating that observation to a sketch or painting. Excellent brain exercising!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So … second half paintings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The top painting was from “real life” from the Jeep as it was raining and windy and with waterbrushes. I was not happy … The bottom is with my regular brushes from my reference photo and at my desk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4\/27 … super fail as noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4\/29 … second try from reference photo. I didn’t hate the first but felt it could be better and felt like trying again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The finale … ending like I started with “The road home”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to adjusting subject matter, I adjusted my kit as well … more detail on that in another post, but …<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At “home”, I used a small household painting ladder … that got me thinking about some sort of transportable “easel” solution …<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I received the above tripod mountable easel for the last 2 paintings. Also above is a Portable Painter palette. All evolving…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sadly, on the 30th for the “Road Home” finale…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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…alternating snow and rain squalls had me painting from inside the Jeep. Really inside as from the driver’s seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My absolute best experience was on 4\/26\/2024 when I painted at Wayfarer’s State Park in Bigfork. I used to walk here with Karl (Karelian Bear dog) almost daily. The thing that made the painting experience the best was that I knew I could park near picnic tables and I found a spot with a great view …<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The option to set up outside similar to my at home desk setup was wonderful! And it gave me some ideas to be explored further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below are links to YouTube videos: my 2nd half video and SarahBurnsStudio video on the 5 important lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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