An Artist's Guide to Plein Air Painting Oct. 2015 | Page 31

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STEP 6 REFINE SHAPES & COLOR

Figure 17 Refine Shapes

This middle stage can lull any painter into a false sense of
security. What happens is that we forget our plan or concept. We
are merrily painting shapes and it is easy to fall into a meditative
state. It is very relaxing until you suddenly realise that this
painting is losing direction. Help!
Remember when this happens fall back on keeping the light and
dark family of shapes in place. You are looking firstly for strong
light and for this to happen there must be shadow and cool color
shapes. If there is a feeling of light and air in your landscape then
you are almost home and dry. Do not overwork it. Look at
finishing the painting.

An Artist’s Guide to Plein Air Painting

Malcolm Dewey