Getting out of the studio

This summer I’ve made a concerted effort to get myself out of the studio and paint in the open air. I grab my watercolor bag that has my palette, brushes, water container, and paper, and jump in the car for an adventure. In the car is my collapsible aluminum easel and a homemade shelf that holds my palette, water, and brushes.

I’ve driven all over Kitsap County and the surrounding area looking for good painting locations. I especially like the hidden, forgotten, and out-of-the-way places, like waterways, shorelines, estuaries, and back alleys. Not only do I enjoy painting the scene, but I feel connected to the place I’m painting. I soak in the sights, sounds, and smells. It’s an immersion experience; it’s exhilarating.

Painting “plein air” like this often produces exciting paintings because of the immediacy and freshness that goes into the painting. There’s no time to be fussy; just get the paint on the paper. Some of my best paintings have been painted outside.

On the other hand, the chances of producing a total failure go way up. Sometimes my plein air painting is a disappointing flop. This is especially true if I’m attempting a scene I’m not familiar with. But you can’t grow unless you take risks, so I plunge ahead.

Here are some of my recent plein air paintings, both good and bad. Click on an image to see the slideshow.