Painting outside makes the difference!
It’s been a long enough winter if you’re a plein air painter but not long enough, I suppose, for skiers. And when you paint using acrylics, the outdoor painting opportunities, in our winters, are very few indeed. Of course, there are sketching opportunities looking out from a window, or from your vehicle parked somewhere. But it’s not the same.
April is here and with it comes green buds, running water, the calling of crows and chirping of sparrows. Last week, when it was warm enough, I stood in new snow in front of my old easel, that hadn’t been used since October last fall. I paused to listen to nature, felt the warm sun on my face and sensed a feeling of life renewing. I put up a small canvas, squeezed out some colours and for the first time in months, lost myself in my painting. What a difference, what an experience loosing myself in shades of colour in the shifting patterns around my boots and under the trees that surround me. There’s a friendly toot from a passing car and a wave from people walking their dog. I wave back and retreat into my world of painting.
An hour has gone by when I step back for the last time and compare my painting with my original intentions. I am satisfied that I have the feeling, assuring myself that there is enough information to start on a larger work. I pack up and head home satisfied that I can do something with this sketch. It’s been a glorious day in the outdoors.
And here’s the difference from just painting something from a photograph: With practice, we can learn to immerse our thoughts and feelings in the subject we are painting, whether we are in the mountains, forest or on a street. Satisfaction is not always attainable, but the experience is rewarding. And on occasion we can soar beyond our expectations.
