perfectionism definitly is my strongest self sabotage weapon . I haven't pick up on the plein air Habit yet , but you've definitly convince me to aim for that goal . I'm a French Boy but I'll let you keep going with the scenery although i love your portrait your plein air Videos are my Favorites . 😁
I have had all kinds of excuses, Emily. I’m slow, I’m inexperienced, bugs love me and I have really bad reactions to bites, etc…..But you so inspire me. My husband and I travel and camp in beautiful places. I just need to try with a simple set up. Thank you for the tips!
Thanks Emily, what a great video to get me excited about dragging the painting gear outside during some beautiful fall weather. Glad I found your channel, I draw a ton of inspiration from it. My biggest barrier is perfectionism, I struggle with it in many areas besides my art, if I cannot do it right, then why try. So, when I can't put on paper what my eye wants to see there then it becomes a self-defeating effort. Public settings, probably the amateur art critics popping up. When I paint, I get in the zone and it's hard to converse with others. It's not the lack of inspiration, here in Washington we have inspiration almost everywhere we look. Sometimes, it's just easier to work from photos as a tool to remember the scene. With photos I see that the much of the lighting is lost, as well as the true magnitude of the subject. It's time to head up to Mount Ranier and get some of those brilliant fall colors on paper before the weather changes! We are truly blessed in the Puget Sound region, in that complete scenic changes are available to us with just a few hours of driving, ocean, mountains, desert, rivers, rainforest, lush forests as well as just the beauty of the Puget Sound. Guess than means, uhm no excuses!!
Your post resonates with me, perfectionism - which also has me chronically overworking my watercolours. I can't imagine doing that in public and someone peeking over my shoulder to look at the muddy mess on my paper. Sigh.
I was painting a utility box in front of a high school. For about a week some of the students would ask me if I could let them paint at least one brush stroke to say they too were involved. 😂 I jokingly said no I'm sorry but its against child labor laws. They would tell me that they would pay me, but i new I shouldn't. It was fun to paint outside at first I was nervous but with time I got used to the kind motivational talk that all the people would give me as they admired my work. Its a good way to practice as well as get rid of fear. I even had some people give things such as water, paint, and food😅. Hope others try it at least once its a fun experience!
I am a very inexperienced painter. I only started a year ago and I have zero expectations for the outcomes of my efforts. Before a recent holiday, I made myself a plein air kit just in case I had a chance to give it a try. I scoped out a spot and then I had to give myself a little pep talk! “This is practice, not a masterpiece.” “Just pick one part of the scene that interests you and work on that, the rest can be loose, it’s okay!” I chose a little island with some trees and a rocky shoreline. The rocks were the thing I chose to “get right”. It was fun and I did okay. I was really glad that I watched some videos of other artists explaining the difficulties of plein air painting. One person said, “choose simple subjects. If you would balk at trying it in the comfort and security of your studio, then don’t try it in the field.” That was really good advice.
Its so cool you have sisters😊 i have no one i mean no brothers,sisters and no friends. I am going to therapy for this and myby live on my own to make friends😊
We can't walk on people's private property anywhere in the UK, or in Europe, without asking permission! Or on farmland, except where there is a public footpath / access / right to roam. I rather suspect the same is true across the world! Imagine how you'd feel if someone just came and sat in your garden or walked across your crops, etc (and people actually do both and far more!). *The owner has the right to question your presence,* even if it's across the street, drawing their house, or their car, or, for example, in a supermarket car park, and they also have the right to tell you to move on!!! It's never happened to me - yet - but I have had the locals checking up on me, discreetly, more often since doing urban sketching in our little town. Here in France, and several other countries, we are back on very high security alert, following on from the Hamas attacks and subsequent attacks on local Palestinians / Judaic people here following the retaliatory action taken by Israel ( *please don't read this and add hate speech from one side or another. It will be reported and I will ignore you! It isn't what this post is about!* ) and in consequence, people are more jittery again. We need to be sensitive, alert, answer the questions of the locals politely and be sensitive to the local culture and situations before we plan to paint anywhere, and not expect "I'm an artist" to be the key to go anywhere we please.
A saying I once read… “don’t measure yourself by someone else’s ruler.” Great video. You are incredibly inspirational. Thanks for all you do for art. ❤
Love your videos and sites. So inspiring. Up here in Canada, painting in decent conditions...like not freezing, is short lived, however, we make the best of it. The biggest thing we do if it is freezing is put alcohol in our water brushes. This does keep things a bit more fluid. We are also very creative at setting up in our vehicles. Strategically parking and setting up our portable studios. A couple of techniques I like to do when it is nice out is simply paint sitting on the ground. I find it very grounding for my spirit and can feel the energy from the earth come up through my system. The other thing I always do before any session of creating is free write. This is also a grounding technique of mine that helps me get the ideas flowing through my system before I even pick up the brush. Thanks again for all your great videos. They are so fun to watch!❤❤❤
Love your videos! I am 68, and started watercolour during lockdown. Just using TH-cam videos. One thing I see many artists use to frame what they will paint is the plastic adjustable matte. I checked your details and it is the one thing you use that I don’t see listed! Can you please tell me what it is called so I can search and order one? Thank you!!!
Deciding what not to pack for a plein air trip is one of the hardest parts! We tend to wind back these videos again and again to study what's in Emily's kit. It's like we're looking for hidden easter eggs in old episodes of Lost!
@@EmilyOlsonArt Good idea! Don't forget the loo pack, emergency pack, mobile phone and emergency number of a family member or friend in case of need. And don't forget to let someone know where you're going if possible! I've seen loads of 'plein air kit' videos (curiosity about what others take almost always catches me and they are usually very short ) and the only one who has mentioned these is Sarah Burns!
How do you handle plein air painting watercolor when it's hot outside and your paper keeps drying? I've done a little bit (I live in a very hot climate) and I find it's often too hot to get washes of color to blend and not have hard edges.
A hat is absolutely essential! Preferably with a broad brim. As essential as having a hot or cold drink (depending on the weather), an emergency snack, first aid stuff for dealing with basics like bites and cuts (antiseptic wipes and some plasters - band-aids for our US friends, I think?), and a mini-loo pack with some loo roll, wet wipes, antiseptic wipes and a plastic bag for rubbish (as important for urban sketchers as for being out in the countryside, as so many loos are missing one or the other and I've never yet found a 'convenient bush' or ditch which came equipped for this 😇). A hat keeps your eyes shaded in the summer and your head warm in the winter (we lose one seventh of our body heat through our heads if we aren't wearing a hat! It's also useful in those unexpected rain showers! Also, don't underestimate how quickly you'll get cold without realising it, except for the high summer months (ie even in spring and autumn). One of my ladies, when she was new to our little group, was disdainful and irritated in the extreme about this being on the list of essentials. She said "I'm a post-woman. I know all about being out in all weathers." So the rest of us, knowing her quite well, said nothing . I wasn't worried, as I always take spare kit (someone always forgets something!). So the first time she came with us, she sat and shivered, but after a while, bit her pride down and accepted the fleece blanket and scarf that I offered her. She never argued with me again about kit requirements, though she often argued about other stuff. We were good friends after a while, and I still miss her. Another told me she didn't need to take lunch and a drink. She never had it at home. But at lunch time, she was very glad to take the extra 'rations' I'd taken with me. It played against me in the end, though, as she 'forgot' her lunch rather too often to be believable, given that she always tucked into whatever I offered her... But as with the first lady, we became good friends and I just accepted them as they were. The third was very stubborn and hated to 'be told', but she was the first I took out. I'd known her for a while, and it didn't take her long to sort out her non-painting essentials and in spite of her stubbornness and being crotchety, I loved her dearly and she loved me! Just a note - I'd pick them up at nine, and we usually didn't get back till mid - late afternoon, depending on where we ended up and what we chose to paint. Hence the need for being sensible about non-painting kit, especially as three of the four were old enough to be my mother (in their late 60's, early 70's). We went out throughout the year whenever the weather was fine, and if not I set something up in my studio (in those days it was also our dining room!). Oh, my word! How I still miss them!!!!
Thanks for posting this video; your advice is so on point! I’m inspired to get outside and paint again. I have done it occasionally, but I definitely have the fear of failure, and the dread of drawing attention, to my self. And I also get overwhelmed by the details when I’m outside, (all the issues you mentioned!)- but I feel inspired to try it again. Thank you!
If my knee ever quits being gimpy again, I will get back down to the park. Key for me was stripping down to the tiniest kit ever- I started off with a rickshaw messenger bag, and lots of gear, but now I have the smallest ArtToolkit set with a 3.5x5.5” sketchbook and a couple of pens, pencil, and water brushes. I’ve filled 3 sketchbooks since I started using that setup. I’m in an Urban environment, I paint anything from the buildings around, to my favorite catalpa tree, to the guy sleeping on the bench, to the people standing in line for a convention. Pretty much everyone ignores me (it is urban, after all) although one girl screeched her bicycle brakes to ask me about the ArtToolkit palette.
Emily I've really been enjoying your series on plein air painting! You are such an inspiration, especially in how you combine hiking with plein air painting. I'm not new to painting outside, but I've generally been minimalist with more of an urban sketching approach...small sketchbook on my lap with a tiny watercolor kit. I love it when kids approach me and they love to share how they enjoy drawing and painting. I tell them to keep it up. I didn't get started with art until I was pushing 40 (now I'm 60). But thanks to you I'm inspired to level it up a notch. When I get back from our trip to Utah (to see the annular eclipse) I'm totally going to order that Taylor Seamount easel and a lightweight tripod (I'm looking at the Sirui Traveler XI) to become a "real" plein air painter! We have a local plein air club and I think I will become a member and go on some of their paint-outs. Thanks again for your sweet self sharing your artistic journey with us on TH-cam.
I am scared to paint infront of people cause they think its weired. I live in the netherlands and here there are zero plane air painters and i live a a small town
I feel like I suddenly have no idea what to do. I need to write down a little step by step list so that I can just not worry about what to do and what order to do it in.
Hey, be encouraged - what you've written tells me that you're already at that level! It's where I was when I first went out to do draw and paint and it is a great way to learn! 🤗
@@EmilyOlsonArt I'm not sure what it's called. The white card with a hole in it to compare the color on the picture you're painting from to the painting you are creating. Can you use this tool when you're painting outdoors ?
I enjoy painting outside. Several years ago, I was doing some watercolor sketches at Boulder Fall in your area. A woman came up to me and ask what type of paint I was using. When I told her watercolor, she said “Isn’t that just for school kids?” I still chuckle at the look on her face when told her the name of famous artist who used watercolor. Thanks for encouraging people to get outdoors to paint.
I love painting outside because I love being out in nature. I just volunteered to do paintouts with our watercolor group when the previous organizer moved away. It was very intimidating at first but we all spread out at the locations I set up for our paintouts so we don’t actually watch each other paint. Occasionally I will take a break & visit with a couple of the painters with their permission and always make positive comments. We all come together at the end & share paintings and the painting experiences. Thank you so much for this positive and encouraging video. I will suggest your channel for our painters.😊
I love 💕 painting Plein Air in my yard, around the farm, & the nearby National Forest & Lake Puskus. I have not had folks come up to me yet since these are place that only my family members are at. I hope to venture out to a bit more public places soon after I get use to just setting up my equipment & putting paint to paper. Thanks for sharing this wonderful video of tips!
The biggest problem I have is getting out. I am rarely alone , ( I'm approaching eighty) my wife gets bored and wants to move. Most of my paintings are done from cell phone photos or snaps from videos. Yes I ask permission but most reply it's public land and they don't care. Our son is an excellent amateur photographer so I am able to use some of his photos too. You can do paintings of the Great Outdoors even when you can't get there.
Hullo Emily, I am not currently painting outside. I have enjoyed working outside in the past, I even belonged to my local gallery group that was composed of Plein Air only painters! I did not last long as I have never been well equipped to working outside. I was once asked if I was actually going to sell that painting? He was a passerby and just did not believe that anyone would pay for a painting like I was painting, I was about 1/2 way through and definitely in an “ugly” phase! Well I did finish and it took a while but it did sell! I appreciate your sharing your expertise and experiences with us, thank you.
Thanks for sharing your tips. I have been a studio painter on/off a few years, just started going out painting plein air very recently. I tell myself it is just a small sketch, and part of the learning/training. I think setting the right expectation for yourself is important. I am surprised to find that i really enjoy painting outside. My goal is trying to go out and paint once a week weather permitting.
Best part was “wear a cute hat” 😂wearing my gray hat does make me feel like an Artiste!
😄😄😄
perfectionism definitly is my strongest self sabotage weapon . I haven't pick up on the plein air Habit yet , but you've definitly convince me to aim for that goal . I'm a French Boy but I'll let you keep going with the scenery although i love your portrait your plein air Videos are my Favorites . 😁
🙌🙌🙌
Is “bugs” one of the reasons?…YAY it was! All jokes aside, I’ve gotten a lot better about drawing in public, the zoo is a fun place to start 😊
Lovely
I have had all kinds of excuses, Emily. I’m slow, I’m inexperienced, bugs love me and I have really bad reactions to bites, etc…..But you so inspire me. My husband and I travel and camp in beautiful places. I just need to try with a simple set up. Thank you for the tips!
Camping and traveling offer perfect opportunities for plein air! 😃
Thanks Emily, what a great video to get me excited about dragging the painting gear outside during some beautiful fall weather. Glad I found your channel, I draw a ton of inspiration from it. My biggest barrier is perfectionism, I struggle with it in many areas besides my art, if I cannot do it right, then why try. So, when I can't put on paper what my eye wants to see there then it becomes a self-defeating effort. Public settings, probably the amateur art critics popping up. When I paint, I get in the zone and it's hard to converse with others. It's not the lack of inspiration, here in Washington we have inspiration almost everywhere we look. Sometimes, it's just easier to work from photos as a tool to remember the scene. With photos I see that the much of the lighting is lost, as well as the true magnitude of the subject. It's time to head up to Mount Ranier and get some of those brilliant fall colors on paper before the weather changes! We are truly blessed in the Puget Sound region, in that complete scenic changes are available to us with just a few hours of driving, ocean, mountains, desert, rivers, rainforest, lush forests as well as just the beauty of the Puget Sound. Guess than means, uhm no excuses!!
Your post resonates with me, perfectionism - which also has me chronically overworking my watercolours. I can't imagine doing that in public and someone peeking over my shoulder to look at the muddy mess on my paper. Sigh.
I was painting a utility box in front of a high school. For about a week some of the students would ask me if I could let them paint at least one brush stroke to say they too were involved. 😂 I jokingly said no I'm sorry but its against child labor laws. They would tell me that they would pay me, but i new I shouldn't. It was fun to paint outside at first I was nervous but with time I got used to the kind motivational talk that all the people would give me as they admired my work. Its a good way to practice as well as get rid of fear. I even had some people give things such as water, paint, and food😅. Hope others try it at least once its a fun experience!
I am a very inexperienced painter. I only started a year ago and I have zero expectations for the outcomes of my efforts. Before a recent holiday, I made myself a plein air kit just in case I had a chance to give it a try. I scoped out a spot and then I had to give myself a little pep talk! “This is practice, not a masterpiece.” “Just pick one part of the scene that interests you and work on that, the rest can be loose, it’s okay!” I chose a little island with some trees and a rocky shoreline. The rocks were the thing I chose to “get right”. It was fun and I did okay. I was really glad that I watched some videos of other artists explaining the difficulties of plein air painting. One person said, “choose simple subjects. If you would balk at trying it in the comfort and security of your studio, then don’t try it in the field.” That was really good advice.
GREAT advice!
I def get stage fright, don't like painting and drawing whilst being watched
Its so cool you have sisters😊 i have no one i mean no brothers,sisters and no friends. I am going to therapy for this and myby live on my own to make friends😊
Ah, yes, a sturdy easel. I learned that the hard way - a gusty day and a very pricey set of fragile Terry Ludwig pastels. 😢
You can walk on people's private property and just tell them you're an artist.
😱😱😱
We can't walk on people's private property anywhere in the UK, or in Europe, without asking permission! Or on farmland, except where there is a public footpath / access / right to roam. I rather suspect the same is true across the world! Imagine how you'd feel if someone just came and sat in your garden or walked across your crops, etc (and people actually do both and far more!).
*The owner has the right to question your presence,* even if it's across the street, drawing their house, or their car, or, for example, in a supermarket car park, and they also have the right to tell you to move on!!! It's never happened to me - yet - but I have had the locals checking up on me, discreetly, more often since doing urban sketching in our little town.
Here in France, and several other countries, we are back on very high security alert, following on from the Hamas attacks and subsequent attacks on local Palestinians / Judaic people here following the retaliatory action taken by Israel ( *please don't read this and add hate speech from one side or another. It will be reported and I will ignore you! It isn't what this post is about!* ) and in consequence, people are more jittery again.
We need to be sensitive, alert, answer the questions of the locals politely and be sensitive to the local culture and situations before we plan to paint anywhere, and not expect "I'm an artist" to be the key to go anywhere we please.
You do that where I live you get shot…JK, but people don’t take kindly to folks wandering around their backyards. 😆
A saying I once read… “don’t measure yourself by someone else’s ruler.” Great video. You are incredibly inspirational. Thanks for all you do for art. ❤
Love that!
Love your videos and sites. So inspiring. Up here in Canada, painting in decent conditions...like not freezing, is short lived, however, we make the best of it. The biggest thing we do if it is freezing is put alcohol in our water brushes. This does keep things a bit more fluid. We are also very creative at setting up in our vehicles. Strategically parking and setting up our portable studios.
A couple of techniques I like to do when it is nice out is simply paint sitting on the ground. I find it very grounding for my spirit and can feel the energy from the earth come up through my system.
The other thing I always do before any session of creating is free write. This is also a grounding technique of mine that helps me get the ideas flowing through my system before I even pick up the brush.
Thanks again for all your great videos. They are so fun to watch!❤❤❤
Love your comments! Thank you for sharing!
I don’t like people watching me paint. It’s disturbing.
SAME!!! Being a major introvert it freaks me out to have people looking at/watching me…go away!!
I wanna paint outside. I paint whit acrylic gouache and himi miya gouache
Ok here’s my embarrassing fear. What if there’s no bathrooms. 😂
That’s legit! Sometimes you have to find a big tree in the woods to hide behind. 😂
Love your videos! I am 68, and started watercolour during lockdown. Just using TH-cam videos. One thing I see many artists use to frame what they will paint is the plastic adjustable matte. I checked your details and it is the one thing you use that I don’t see listed! Can you please tell me what it is called so I can search and order one? Thank you!!!
Generically they are called view finders. The little grey one is called the ViewCatcher. Very handy
Someone once suggested that, if you don't want to be bothered while painting outdoors, wear headphones.
That could work! 👍
Deciding what not to pack for a plein air trip is one of the hardest parts! We tend to wind back these videos again and again to study what's in Emily's kit. It's like we're looking for hidden easter eggs in old episodes of Lost!
“Easter eggs”! Love it! I guess I should make a “pack your bag for plein air” video…
@@EmilyOlsonArt Good idea! Don't forget the loo pack, emergency pack, mobile phone and emergency number of a family member or friend in case of need. And don't forget to let someone know where you're going if possible! I've seen loads of 'plein air kit' videos (curiosity about what others take almost always catches me and they are usually very short ) and the only one who has mentioned these is Sarah Burns!
How do you handle plein air painting watercolor when it's hot outside and your paper keeps drying? I've done a little bit (I live in a very hot climate) and I find it's often too hot to get washes of color to blend and not have hard edges.
A hat is absolutely essential! Preferably with a broad brim. As essential as having a hot or cold drink (depending on the weather), an emergency snack, first aid stuff for dealing with basics like bites and cuts (antiseptic wipes and some plasters - band-aids for our US friends, I think?), and a mini-loo pack with some loo roll, wet wipes, antiseptic wipes and a plastic bag for rubbish (as important for urban sketchers as for being out in the countryside, as so many loos are missing one or the other and I've never yet found a 'convenient bush' or ditch which came equipped for this 😇). A hat keeps your eyes shaded in the summer and your head warm in the winter (we lose one seventh of our body heat through our heads if we aren't wearing a hat! It's also useful in those unexpected rain showers!
Also, don't underestimate how quickly you'll get cold without realising it, except for the high summer months (ie even in spring and autumn).
One of my ladies, when she was new to our little group, was disdainful and irritated in the extreme about this being on the list of essentials. She said "I'm a post-woman. I know all about being out in all weathers." So the rest of us, knowing her quite well, said nothing . I wasn't worried, as I always take spare kit (someone always forgets something!).
So the first time she came with us, she sat and shivered, but after a while, bit her pride down and accepted the fleece blanket and scarf that I offered her. She never argued with me again about kit requirements, though she often argued about other stuff. We were good friends after a while, and I still miss her.
Another told me she didn't need to take lunch and a drink. She never had it at home. But at lunch time, she was very glad to take the extra 'rations' I'd taken with me. It played against me in the end, though, as she 'forgot' her lunch rather too often to be believable, given that she always tucked into whatever I offered her... But as with the first lady, we became good friends and I just accepted them as they were.
The third was very stubborn and hated to 'be told', but she was the first I took out. I'd known her for a while, and it didn't take her long to sort out her non-painting essentials and in spite of her stubbornness and being crotchety, I loved her dearly and she loved me!
Just a note - I'd pick them up at nine, and we usually didn't get back till mid - late afternoon, depending on where we ended up and what we chose to paint. Hence the need for being sensible about non-painting kit, especially as three of the four were old enough to be my mother (in their late 60's, early 70's). We went out throughout the year whenever the weather was fine, and if not I set something up in my studio (in those days it was also our dining room!). Oh, my word! How I still miss them!!!!
Fun story! 🙂
Thanks for posting this video; your advice is so on point! I’m inspired to get outside and paint again. I have done it occasionally, but I definitely have the fear of failure, and the dread of drawing attention, to my self. And I also get overwhelmed by the details when I’m outside, (all the issues you mentioned!)- but I feel inspired to try it again. Thank you!
You can do it!
If my knee ever quits being gimpy again, I will get back down to the park. Key for me was stripping down to the tiniest kit ever- I started off with a rickshaw messenger bag, and lots of gear, but now I have the smallest ArtToolkit set with a 3.5x5.5” sketchbook and a couple of pens, pencil, and water brushes. I’ve filled 3 sketchbooks since I started using that setup. I’m in an Urban environment, I paint anything from the buildings around, to my favorite catalpa tree, to the guy sleeping on the bench, to the people standing in line for a convention. Pretty much everyone ignores me (it is urban, after all) although one girl screeched her bicycle brakes to ask me about the ArtToolkit palette.
Sounds like you’ve found a great solution!
Emily I've really been enjoying your series on plein air painting! You are such an inspiration, especially in how you combine hiking with plein air painting. I'm not new to painting outside, but I've generally been minimalist with more of an urban sketching approach...small sketchbook on my lap with a tiny watercolor kit. I love it when kids approach me and they love to share how they enjoy drawing and painting. I tell them to keep it up. I didn't get started with art until I was pushing 40 (now I'm 60). But thanks to you I'm inspired to level it up a notch. When I get back from our trip to Utah (to see the annular eclipse) I'm totally going to order that Taylor Seamount easel and a lightweight tripod (I'm looking at the Sirui Traveler XI) to become a "real" plein air painter! We have a local plein air club and I think I will become a member and go on some of their paint-outs. Thanks again for your sweet self sharing your artistic journey with us on TH-cam.
Love this! 👏
I am scared to paint infront of people cause they think its weired. I live in the netherlands and here there are zero plane air painters and i live a a small town
It is a little scary! Maybe it’s time to introduce plein air painting to your town! 🙌💕
I feel like I suddenly have no idea what to do. I need to write down a little step by step list so that I can just not worry about what to do and what order to do it in.
I’m still too new to try painting outside (heck, I haven’t weaned off the outline drawings yet!) but I can’t wait until I get to that level😊
You can do it!! 🙌
Hey, be encouraged - what you've written tells me that you're already at that level! It's where I was when I first went out to do draw and paint and it is a great way to learn! 🤗
painting outside is so fun and something everyone should try! you've covered some really great points here ❤❤
The one thing holding me back is trying to find a nearby place where I feel safe to be alone, but still have interesting things to paint.
I have exactly the same problem! Plein air safety isn't discussed enough.
If you feel unsafe, definitely bring a buddy! 💕
Emily,
Can you use a color comparison view finder when painting en plein air?
I’m actually not sure what that is! 🤷♀️
@@EmilyOlsonArt I'm not sure what it's called. The white card with a hole in it to compare the color on the picture you're painting from to the painting you are creating. Can you use this tool when you're painting outdoors ?
I dont paint outside because its Scotland lol Think wind, lots of wind lol
I want to visit Scotland! But that’s exactly what I imagine it’s like, lol!
its very green and has a lot of great landscapes/waterfalls/cliffs to paint 🙂
I enjoy painting outside. Several years ago, I was doing some watercolor sketches at Boulder Fall in your area. A woman came up to me and ask what type of paint I was using. When I told her watercolor, she said “Isn’t that just for school kids?” I still chuckle at the look on her face when told her the name of famous artist who used watercolor. Thanks for encouraging people to get outdoors to paint.
Oh that’s too funny! 😂
I love painting outside because I love being out in nature. I just volunteered to do paintouts with our watercolor group when the previous organizer moved away. It was very intimidating at first but we all spread out at the locations I set up for our paintouts so we don’t actually watch each other paint. Occasionally I will take a break & visit with a couple of the painters with their permission and always make positive comments. We all come together at the end & share paintings and the painting experiences.
Thank you so much for this positive and encouraging video. I will suggest your channel for our painters.😊
Thanks so much for the lovely comment!
I love 💕 painting Plein Air in my yard, around the farm, & the nearby National Forest & Lake Puskus. I have not had folks come up to me yet since these are place that only my family members are at. I hope to venture out to a bit more public places soon after I get use to just setting up my equipment & putting paint to paper. Thanks for sharing this wonderful video of tips!
That’s perfect! 🙌
The biggest problem I have is getting out. I am rarely alone , ( I'm approaching eighty) my wife gets bored and wants to move. Most of my paintings are done from cell phone photos or snaps from videos. Yes I ask permission but most reply it's public land and they don't care. Our son is an excellent amateur photographer so I am able to use some of his photos too. You can do paintings of the Great Outdoors even when you can't get there.
So true! I work from photos all the time, too!
Hullo Emily, I am not currently painting outside. I have enjoyed working outside in the past, I even belonged to my local gallery group that was composed of Plein Air only painters! I did not last long as I have never been well equipped to working outside. I was once asked if I was actually going to sell that painting? He was a passerby and just did not believe that anyone would pay for a painting like I was painting, I was about 1/2 way through and definitely in an “ugly” phase! Well I did finish and it took a while but it did sell! I appreciate your sharing your expertise and experiences with us, thank you.
Oh that’s the worst! I get defensive in my mind -it’s not done yet!! 😂
So many truths said. I have timidly started doing plein air and still trying to find my perfect kit. Almost there
Once I've learned that Plein Air wasn't a new watercolor pen, I have been venturing out to paint. You listed out all of the fears I have encountered.
I love your videos, they inspire me to go out and just paint. Thank you.
I really needed to hear this. I was just out yesterday trying to capture every detail of the mountain and it's didn't work out. I love your videos.
So glad you got out there! 🙌
Thanks for sharing your tips. I have been a studio painter on/off a few years, just started going out painting plein air very recently. I tell myself it is just a small sketch, and part of the learning/training. I think setting the right expectation for yourself is important. I am surprised to find that i really enjoy painting outside. My goal is trying to go out and paint once a week weather permitting.
That’s a great goal!
Thanks for a great video!
Glad you liked it!
Love your videos!! Very inspirational and down to earth.
Thank you so much!