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Camelid β Pleinair Compilation: Summer 2016
#acrylic #clouds #fields #grass #nature #skillbuilding #naturelandscape #outdoors #painting #pleinair #sketching #studies #traditionalart #treesforest #arttips
Published: 2016-06-28 03:46:23 +0000 UTC; Views: 4234; Favourites: 243; Downloads: 22
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So I don't post it on here, but I do a lot of plein air work - I started painting outdoors after discovering James Gurney's work and I got hooked. Even in the Texas heat I try and get out everyday. There's so much to learn about color, lighting, atmosphere, texture, form...and it's all just sitting outside, waiting to be painted. Honestly I think working from life, particularly outdoors, has been the discipline most responsible for my artistic growth in the past 6 or 7 years.It's also the reason I am perpetually covered in bug bites and nettle burns.
Fair trade off, really.
You can read more about my plein air adventures and see more of my day-to-day studies on my blog: jaimiewhitbreaddesign.wordpresβ¦
Or on tumblr: camelidae.tumblr.com/
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Comments: 45
I could stare for hours. Thank you so much for sharing and for taking the time to make these beautiful renderings. You have inspired me to take the plunge into plein air acrylic painting this spring and summer. Exquisite work. Cheers
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So inspiring! Thank you for sharing. I love the contrast in mood between the overcast lower left painting, and the fresher light in the painting to the right. The cloud studies are super pretty, too.
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Lovely work! I love the vibrant palette you chose!
While looking at some of these, especially the ones with a more direct, stronger lighting, I had a question--hope you don't mind answering it?...
Since plein-air is not exactly like say, a still life in a controlled environment/studio with fixed lighting, how do you deal with the constant changes with your subjects? For instance, lighting can change a lot, as the sun can be obscured by a cloud passing by or even start to set. Some other things I had in mind are leaves/branches swaying and perhaps random animal guests joining in, haha.
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Thank you!
And, not at all!
I think honing your visual memory is key for plein air - and as it happens, plein air is an excellent way to do just that. Since the light does change so quickly, you're forced to paint quickly, prioritizing your strokes and keeping a picture in your head of what the scene looked like when you started. There's a major learning curve in the beginning, but you get the hang of it, and the more you do, the more your work improves and the more difficult subjects you can tackle. It helps to think of each session as a learning experience rather than a quest for a finished piece - each time you try a new subject you log away bits and pieces of information about how to paint it, so even if your painting is a dud, you still come home with something worthwhile.
It also helps to be flexible - many a time I've changed a painting's direction part way through because the lighting changed (sometimes for the better) or something moved (usually animals - trees tend to stay put 
As it happens, James Gurney (personal hero) just did a really good blog post on dealing with changing light: gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/201β¦
I definitely recommend checking out his blog if you haven't before - he's got tons of information about plein air and illustration - very talented painter and very generous in sharing his knowledge.
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"It helps to think of each session as a learning experience rather than a quest for a finished piece - each time you try a new subject you log away bits and pieces of information about how to paint it, so even if your painting is a dud, you still come home with something worthwhile."
You know, that is a VERY sensible and positive way of looking at it. Really made me rethink how I would normally approach art/learning.
I've read over that second paragraph of yours a few times. And you're right. I can see why you like plein air so much! In fact, I think I should start doing some of my own once the heat goes away! :'D
Back in school, i was always painting in a cramped, dark studio or in a cramped room and it really effected me mentally so painting itself felt bad, my work seemed even worse, there was no fun in it and it was just miserable. I think I might try looking at painting again from your perspective and see how it goes!
And oh gosh, yes I too am a huge fan of Gurney. He is an amazing artist and individual and I always keep one of his books with me.
I wasn't aware how intensive his blog was! I've definitely seen bits and pieces of it over the years, but didn't even look at how much he's been posting.
Thanks so much for the tips! And keep up your painting game! :3 I really enjoy seeing passionate people work hard at what they love to do.
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Glad I could lend some advice! I hope you can get out and paint soon! :3
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Thank you!
And, not at all!
I think honing your visual memory is key for plein air - and as it happens, plein air is an excellent way to do just that. Since the light does change so quickly, you're forced to paint quickly, prioritizing your strokes and keeping a picture in your head of what the scene looked like when you started. There's a major learning curve in the beginning, but you get the hang of it, and the more you do, the more your work improves and the more difficult subjects you can tackle. It helps to think of each session as a learning experience rather than a quest for a finished piece - each time you try a new subject you log away bits and pieces of information about how to paint it, so even if your painting is a dud, you still come home with something worthwhile.
It also helps to be flexible - many a time I've changed a painting's direction part way through because the lighting changed (sometimes for the better) or something moved (usually animals - trees tend to stay put |p). When working in nature there's so little you can control - it won't bend to you, so you have to be the nimble one and bend to it. That's actually my favorite part - it's very humbling and also personally challenging. I complain about the sun moving, bugs biting and shadows changing all the time in my blog, but those are the very same things that I feel like are making me a better artist - it's a complicated relationship ;3
As it happens, James Gurney (personal hero) just did a really good blog post on dealing with changing light: gurneyjourney.blogspot.com/201β¦
I definitely recommend checking out his blog if you haven't before - he's got tons of information about plein air and illustration - very talented painter and very generous in sharing his knowledge.
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Aw the light in the woods~~ <3
Your studies made me remember that I wanted to do painting outside so. But I have no idea on how to install myself with a minimum of comfort for that... How do you do? Would you have some advices?
And I'm also curious: how long does it takes to you to do one of those studies?
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Glad you like them! I'm happy to give advice:
When I go out I pack a bag with all my supplies - a mix-media sketchbook or watercolor sketchbook, my paints (I use acrylic - white, crimson or cadmium red, prussian blue and a warm and cool yellow), a wet palette, two water bottles for paint water and a small tupperware to wet the brushes in. I have a small travel set of brushes I use - Jack Richeson travel brush set - you can find it on amazon, and I highly recommend it.
I also bring a towel to lay down wherever I'm going to paint - it keeps the bugs and stickers off to an extent, though you will still get bugs and stickers if you're in the deep woods. A hat or visor helps, also, if it's sunny. Sunscreen and bug spray, too!
I always use a wet palette when I work with acrylics, and it helps immensely when working outdoors - you can easily google how to make a wet palette to find several methods. Mine is a pencil box lined with wet paper towels and topped with a sheet of vinyl paper cut to size. This keeps the paint from drying out while you're using it - it can keep acrylics fresh for a couple days, even.
Beyond that, I would suggest starting somewhere close - maybe you're backyard or local park - and try out your supplies before you commit to a long hike. That way if you forget something, it isn't such an inconvenience.
And embrace the little annoyances of nature - bugs, sun, wind, rain, stickers and stinging plants. They can be a pain, but it's part of the adventure ;3
Most of these painting were between a half hour to an hour - though when I was just starting out, it took me much longer. But the light changes so quickly that you have to learn to paint quickly, too.
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Thank you very much for your precious advices! I understand a lot now.
I absolutely had no idea that a such thing as wet palettes existed, it must be really useful!
As I'm living in the country I'm not afraid of bugs nor stickers, and the nature is all around. I can't wait to try this out now!
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No problem! I hadn't ever heard about wet palettes either until I stumbled onto someone's tutorial on the internet - totally saved my life as an acrylic painter! I waste so much less paint and it's so much easier to blend colors - I don't know why they didn't teach it in my art classes.
Hope you can get out soon and enjoy the nature!
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Thank you! Glad you like them :3
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Those are great. I like every single one of them.
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Thank you! Glad you like them :3
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I should get out my old paints and try this, trouble is I'm too lazy. I'm a nature lover, but only in theory now-a-days.
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Are any of the original pieces for sale? I've been following these on your tumblr and love 'em.Β
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Glad you like them! Unfortunately these, being studies, are all done in a sketchbook and not suitable for sale. But I'm planning to start trying some work on sturdier paper and canvas, so there may be some for sale in the future :3
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Fantastic! I look forward to more of your work.
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Thank you, glad you do! :3
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You're welcome
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Wow, these are all so amazing! I don't draw from life very much anymore, mainly from photos now, but I think I'll try getting out and doing some plain air painting too. It looks really fun
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Thank you! It is a lot of fun! It's definitely a challenge compared to working from photos - your lighting changes rapidly and you don't have the benefit of a temperature-controlled, bug-free studio - but the obstacles make it all the more rewarding when you see yourself improve :3
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Yeah, well the weather's usually alright where I am, not really hot and generally overcast X'D But wind, bugs and rain are another matter haha
Have to agree with that! I've only managed to do a few so far, and whilst I'm not too happy with the results of most (foliage why are you so difficult?), I've really enjoyed it and I can't wait to do more
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soooo gorgeous!! I usually work from my mind (after practising working from life) but now you inspired me to paint outside my walls again 
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Thanks! I'm very happy to have inspired you - hope you enjoy the great outdoors!
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Thank you! Glad you like it :3
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