Imagining the Possibilities
A crucial part of plein air painting is selection. When faced with all that visual information, it can be daunting to nail down what is to be kept and what is to be ignored. Scope creep is real.
I study the scene for composition and all the primary questions of line, darkest dark, lightest line, temperature of the light, focal point…And if I am diligent, I create thumbnails to see what changes I can make. If time were not a factor, I would engage all my senses, breathe in the air, calm myself and collect more information. What does the scene “feel” like? Why am I drawn to paint this particular subject? Why is it special and how can I translate that onto my canvas?
It feels like a race, to be honest.
I have a new tool: the Fairview Finder. Until now, my viewfinder was a there small grey viewer, a very useful aid. And I expect I will continue to rely on it. But I do like the size of the Fairview Finder and the addition of composition suggestions included on the viewer. What is the saying? Stop and smell the roses? I want to slow down, be more mindful and concentrate on experiencing the feeling of my surroundings. And hopefully capture that in a very short time.
I Do Love a Bit of Nostalgia
I am delighted that my painting of Reflections of the Past has left the gallery for a new home. I have to admit that I am drawn to nostalgia and how memories and connections to places can add so much more to a painting.
New River Beach is a wonderful stretch of sand along the southern coastline of New Brunswick. The tides and weather can change rapidly. We can be bathed in sunshine or fog and find our footsteps quickly disappearing beneath the rising water. The wooden sentinels that brave the passage of time will some day disappear. And that causes me sadness as they are part of the charm of the beach.
Reflections of the Past
I am delighted that my painting of Reflections of the Past has left the gallery for a new home. I have to admit that I am drawn to nostalgia and how memories and connections to places can add so much more to a painting.
New River Beach is a wonderful stretch of sand along the southern coastline of New Brunswick. The tides and weather can change rapidly. We can be bathed in sunshine or fog and find our footsteps quickly disappearing beneath the rising water. The wooden sentinels that brave the passage of time will some day disappear. And that causes me sadness as they are part of the charm of the beach.
What Have I been Up to?
Spring is technically here but we expect more snow tomorrow. But my garden shows promise. There are sprouts above the ground which raises my spirits. There are other changes for me. After a winter of painting, my studio is divesting itself of some completed and sold paintings.
There are some that have been set aside for shows, some sent to my local gallery and some that have been sent to buyers. The following images are some of these. This means that I can now start new artwork. And as seeds germinate in the ground, I begin to create thumbnails and sketches for new work. This is always an exciting time for me. My hope is that what I create reflects the feeling and energy from my material source. Happy spring everyone. Dale
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