An Artist's Guide to Plein Air Painting Oct. 2015 | Page 25

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STEP 1: THE SKETCH

A small notan* sketch is always worthwhile. This sketch makes me
look for the dominant shadow and light shapes. This is part of the
process to simplify a scene into basic shapes.

Figure 11Notan Sketch

STEP 2: COMPOSE THE PAINTING

I am using a Masonite or MDF panel to paint on. These panels are
safer to use outdoors and are better for small sizes. First prime the
panel with two coats of gesso. I always prefer to tome the panel in a
neutral color or warm shades of cadmium red light, raw sienna or
burnt sienna to get rid of the cool white primer. It is also difficult to
assess the lightest light color when the primer is in fact the lightest!

*for more on notan please see my course Learn to Paint With Impact

An Artist’s Guide to Plein Air Painting

Malcolm Dewey