I've been wanting to try plein air for a while now, as well as try my hand at watercolour and ink beyond illustration. The ink outline got a bit lost in the end and I regretted painting the background first as I made a dog's breakfast of it - I wish I'd left it out. However, I thoroughly enjoyed getting outside and painting from life on a glorious, sunny, autumn day. I love this eucalyptus tree that is in our garden, and have been wanting to paint it for years. The trunk looks stunning in the dappled light (in real life that is!). I painted this over the course of two hours this afternoon and by the time I'd finished, the shadows were getting much more pronounced. I began to deepen the shadows as you can see on the right hand limb but then I realised I was losing the nuance I had captured originally. So it is a rather flawed piece but successful enough to inspire me to try again.
I want to get a light-weight outdoor easel so I feel I can go further afield. Now that the weather is cooling down I won't get burnt to a crisp. I didn't have a very practical set up today. I just sat on a camp stool with the paper clipped to a board and I held it on my lap. I brought down an old kid's chair to put everything on. Here are some progress shots.
Oh Yes, this is the best shot I've been able to get of a stingray so far, so I will keep trying! Yes, it is that black shape in the middle of the photo!!
Hi Wendy. I always love reading about people's en plein air expeditions. Yours sounded really enjoyable in the autumn sunshine. Lovely work on your eucalyptus tree. It really is never easy painting outdoors. Thanks for the inspiration for tackling tree textures. A subject I keep wanting to do in fuller detail but never get round to doing it. There are always so many lovely subjects to cover. Take care till next time. xx
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Laura! I am itching to try something like this again but I must invest in a light weight standing easel as it really hurt my back to sit when doing this one. I love your latest painting of the church.
DeleteI'm so glad you went out plein air painting and did this lovely painting of the eucalyptus tree. Your setup looks fine...just what you need if you are painting or sketching close by. Great texture to the tree!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Joan. You were a big inspiration for me to get outside and paint what is around me. I love following your blog of daily sketches and paintings - very inspiring!
DeleteDear Wendy - I think your eucalyptus tree is very lovely. Your set up sounds fine too. I have a little child's stool that acts as a backpack...it carries everything I need except my paper support. Will share a picture of it sometime. In the meantime I think you did a great job with this beautiful tree.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debbie! I would love to see the backpack/stool you mentioned. My camp stool was very uncomfortable so I need to look for a standing easel I think. Loved seeing your sketchbooks!
DeleteHello Wendy , I think you made an awesome 'portrait' of your eucalyptus tree...it is even recognizable as one ! And the background doesn't disturb me at all, I think it enhances the tree beautifully . Ant thanks for the shot of the sting ray, woooow , beautiful but dangerous :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Jane! I'm glad you thought the background wasn't too terrible. I don't mind it so much now as I have become more used to it. I will try to get a better snap of a stingray but it is hard to coincide the days when the water is still and clear with when I have taken my camera - and when a stingray is to be found of course! Although they are often around.
DeleteOh my goodness, a stingray right there?! Wow! I admire you for being able to draw and paint outdoors, I think that would be so complicated. It always seems like a fun idea, but I never quite get out there to do it either. I'll look forward to seeing and hearing more about your outdoor art ventures! This is a wonderful tree, and portrayed with so much personality.
ReplyDeleteThanks Katherine! Yes, I would love to do more outdoor painting and sketching once I set myself up with the right accoutrements. We are getting the perfect weather right now with it being autumn - not too hot or too windy - so hopefully I will get my act together before winter is upon us and raining all the time. (hopefully it will be raining - we haven't seen much of the wet stuff for a very long time!). I will be posting a picture I did in coloured pencils very soon! I'm a great fan of your pencil work!
DeleteP.S. Yes Katherine, I see stingrays most days that I go walking these days. There seem to be a flock of them in the area although mostly just seen one at a time. Occasionally they will be seen dotted along the reef all at once.
DeleteThis is a wonderful fresh rendering of your pet tree it always amazes me how working outside can get such a vitality in the work that is often lost in the studio. funny how you said you are going to look for a plain air easel...I just was out shopping today while on holiday here in Florida, and I bought myself a new plain air easel! It's a lightweight folding one...it was such a good price I couldn't not get it! I'm looking forward to getting outdoors more myself to paint, it's one of my fav things to do. Lovely to see your progress shots, and the stingray too!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Sally! I'm glad you think my painting has vitality. I felt I was able to get a lot more life into the painting compared to relying on a photo as they never catch the nuances of shadows and light in the same way. I think that plein air is the perfect way to paint as it combines the creative passion with a love of being out in nature - what could be better!?
DeleteWhat is the name of the easel you bought? I might be able to source one on-line. I haven't found any lightweight ones locally other than the most basic tripod styles. Love your latest painting of the cottage!
LOVe the warm look to this work! REALLY Cool!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Sue! Love your latest painting "Out of Control"
DeleteReally like the progress photo's and your Eucalyptus tree, Wendy. Looking forward to more plein air paintings of your hand. Great photo of the stingray!
ReplyDeleteThanks Hilje! It is a favourite tree of mine and looks different at different times of the year depending on whether it is shedding bark or not. When it rains the normally beige-ish trunk becomes very green. I hope to get a better shot of a stingray sometime. I'm looking forward to seeing your next beautiful piece of art - I've enjoyed seeing some of your older pieces lately!
DeleteYou did an incredible job Wendy!!! You are a natural plein air painter, beautiful light and shadows on the tree, feels very airy and impressionistic. I love the vivid colors in your watercolor too, including the background! Beautiful progress shots and I hope you keep it up! Fall is a wonderful time to get out and paint.
ReplyDeleteGreat sting ray photo, they move rather fast.
You are very kind Celia! I really appreciate all your lovely compliments! I do hope to do more plein air in both watercolour and acrylic. Once I finish off this book I'm writing I will have more time to get myself properly set up for it.
DeleteSo sorry to hear about your accident. I hope you are recovering well!
Wendy, thank you for visiting my blog. I see that your a big nature lover also.
ReplyDeleteYour painting of this tree is wonderful, background and all.
BJ
Thanks so much Barbra! I love the landscapes/seascapes that you have been working on lately!
DeleteOkay My Aussie Friend! Now you have got me thinking I better get out and do some plein air painting!
ReplyDeleteI so very much love your watercolor! I find it to such a tough and unforgiving medium! Not so for you! The tree is outstanding! Love it! Love the colors and the lights and darks! I love the movement! I so love old wild looking trees. You made this tree noble and so very interesting! I am glad you took photos showing how this one progressed. It progressed very well! Love your little set up! It is fun to picture you out there! Still interesting to hear you talk of heat and the fall when I am still very cold with our very odd spring so far! I love the photo of the sting ray! Thank you for getting this shot. You had mentioned a sting ray photo a while back! Do you swim where the sting rays hang out? I know nothing of sting rays! Their name certainly sounds formidable! Are they very dangerous? ( I guess I really should just google sting rays!) The only sting rays I see are Chevrolet Corvette Sting Rays! My buddy has an old school bright yellow one! Tough car!
Enjoy every second on the planet Wendy! Stay cool!
Your Trying To Catch Up On Commenting Art Blogging Art Buddy!
Michael "Perth"ard!
I felt so uplifted after reading your very enthusiastic compliments Michael - you are too kind! They inspire me to try the watercolours more often. I hope you do some outdoor painting once spring is properly upon you and you don't freeze to death! As you know I had grand plans to paint every week again but I hurt my back even more after sitting on that camp chair - it turned out to be a very bad position - I had ignored the discomfort because I was so embroiled in the creative process. But the main reason for not having painted since then is that my writing has yet again stolen all my creative time. I am so close to getting my manuscript to the next stage - which is getting it ready to be critiqued before I do the final draft. It seems to be a never ending process to get a book finished and knowing when to decide it is finished is the hardest part.
DeleteYes, stingrays can be dangerous if they feel threatened - have you heard of Steve Irwin - the crocodile hunter? He unfortunately met his end after being stung by a stingray. Generally though, these stingrays are friendly and curious and will come up to you to check you out. I saw one just the other week from my high vantage point on the path by the road. A swimmer was blissfully unaware of one coming up to her from behind and she made a hasty retreat to the beach when she noticed it. I have never known of any incidents occurring around here as they are more often swimming over the nearby reef and never attack on a whim anyway. I imagine the Corvette Sting Rays are a very fine sight to see as well! I have never been overly worried about stingrays as I save all my fear for sharks which worry me a whole lot more. There was a great white shark spotted just 10 metres from shore at a beach the other week just a half hour drive from here. Shudder! I'm too gutless to swim in the ocean very often but there are many who aren't afraid of course.
Your ocean loving but nervous swimmer art cobber
Wendy
P.S. I meant to say that I love the portrait work you are doing lately!
DeleteGlad to see you getting outside to paint, Wendy! Keep it up. Will look for more from you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Diane! You are a big inspiration for getting outside to paint!
DeleteWell done on the tree! Lots of studies at different times would look amazing! Plein air can be difficult but fun at the same time!
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen, Yes, I hope to do more paintings of this tree,
DeleteLove this, and like the background. I think we often think we've blown it when we haven't.
ReplyDeleteXOXOXO Barbara
That's kind of you to say so Barbara! I don't mind the background so much now that I've had time to get used to it.
DeleteWow Wendy! This is one of your best no doubt. The tree is painted with so much life to it and the light is fantastic, very southern hemisphere!
ReplyDeleteNot sure I agree with your assessment of the background. I think it works. There is light popping and bouncing all over the place, the reason for the liveliness.
Your palette on the tree (sienna) separates it nicely from the background.
The initial drawing too is very energetic.
Since we have eucalyptus trees here too I know how they are, so many colors in them. I have only painted them a couple times. But seeing yours maybe I should do the same. Oh we forget sometimes what is right in front of us!
More watercolors!
Keep painting...
Thanks so much for your enthusiastic comments David! I had hoped that I'd captured the light and energy of the day so I was pleased to read that you thought I'd been successful. I would like to do more outdoor painting although I may have left it a little late in the season now that the rain has come - which is very welcome of course!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see the paintings you've done of your eucalyptus trees. I'd heard that Tasmanian blue gums have been growing in California since the early days - have other types been introduced as well? They must thrive in your climate!
I hope you've been getting rain too!
Love the series you're working on!
There are some gum trees, don't know exactly what they are called though. There is a huge gum tree in Redondo Beach that the city has declared some kind of landmark, has those big pods that fall from it, sound familiar?
DeleteWe have a lot of trees, tropical and sub-tropical, that are not indigenous to So Cal, brought here for a variety of reasons.
I've read that the euc's were originally planned to make railroad ties but they found the grain had too much of a twist to it.
Most eucalyptus trees (apparently there are over 700 species of them) have some sort of nut that forms after they flower. I'm not very up with many of their names I must confess - I keep forgetting the names of the ones we have in our own garden. I only just discovered that you have native oaks in California - how lovely - they are such a great tree!
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