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| Gathering around the demonstration |
We set up for three days at the beautiful Felmer country estate near Cedarburg, Wisconsin to try and capture the light.
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| 1st day demo |
I may have done a bit more chasing than others.
A few workshop participants were novices like myself and others had already made great strides painting plein air with oils for over a decade. No matter what your skill level the instructor started each day with a new approach. But the end results were always the same-fabulous.
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| 2nd day demo |
Some artists were competing in "Paint Cedarburg" a plein air event the following week. I made sure I went to cheer on my fellow artists.
Be sure to visit a plein air event and see the artists at work. You'll be hooked like me.
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| 3rd day demo |
Tom covered the many challenges of painting outside and provided us with tips to overcome them.
One lesson that comes to mind is the "Lizard Brain". As we paint we use the cerebral cortex of our brain to make those critical decisions on composition, value and temperature of color.
Our brain power tends to diminish after about three hours and the brain switches to the amygdala, the more primal portion. Thus changing our decision making to rash and emotional. Often damaging the results to the work in progress.
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| subject matter photo |
You might guess were I'm going with this. I'll be posting my own painting results in an upcoming blog. I just need some time to finish.
I took lots of photos of the demo's. Here's a series depicting the approach Tom takes to painting.
The subject matter is the photo to the right.
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| roughing in darks to lights |
Beginning with the basic shapes of darks and then lights. Roughing in the subject matter with a thin layer of paint.
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| adding in colors |
Adding color temperatures and creating the image forms. He likens the process to drawing with paint. As he paints he continues to adjust the forms for values.
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| refining and adjusting |
He began this painting in the morning and finished it in the afternoon light. Always trying to keep the brush strokes fresh and not overworked. This is how you can tell the difference between a professional.
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| Tom Nachreiner |
The painting may still be worked on back in his studio with fresh eyes and a refreshed brain.
Good pointers for sure!
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