An Artist's Guide to Plein Air Painting Oct. 2015 | Page 17

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Remember to try and suggest with shapes and paint application too.
For instance lines on a road suggested by the paint strokes. Wavy
thick paint strokes can suggest the motion of water - you get the idea.
Develop your painting by adding more color and keeping a close eye
on your scene. Do not get caught up in details. Work quickly and
intuitively. Pay attention to light and dark shapes and adjust where
necessary. Look at your edges and soften where needed. Focal
points can have harder edges, but try to avoid this elsewhere.
Stand back to look at the panel often and compare then adjust where
needed. Forget perfection. Go for mood and eye catching elements
that say more than perfectly rendered details.
Above all else have fun. Concentrate but keep the process light
hearted. Loosen up - breathe - sing if you want to. This is creativity
and freedom.
When the painting is done put it in the panel carrier and start another
with a different scene. When back at the studio put the panels up
somewhere and assess them. Have a seat and look at them across
the room.

An Artist’s Guide to Plein Air Painting

Malcolm Dewey