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It has been a long time since I picked up a paintbrush for pure joy. Recently a little voice punched through listening to Valerie Speer talk with my neighbour Julia about the Rosebud Arts Collective. Val mentioned a workshop they were organizing and how a couple more artists joining would make the painting weekend memorable. On the way back home I thought how much we enjoyed Rosebud. Given I love the countryside and also enjoy escaping in our camper van, on the walk back home I turned to Julia and said "Why not? I am going to register when I get home. Shortly after I registered and saw the course list with a reference to "En Plain Air" and it brought me back to my days of fine art school at the Alberta University of the Arts looking at instructors course list… and anticipating the lessons ahead.
En Plein Air (Painting in the open air) so I relearned came to be when artists could leave the confines of their studio with tubes of paint, (oh the art history days). With this glorious invention- Painting outside aligns with my life as for the last while, we try to live within our means; a small walkable community in a 635 square foot condo. With efforts of trying to live in a smaller place, the studio is either the kitchen table or on the lap; while I've tried easels in our home, it just gets in the way. Painting outside makes a great deal of sense space and time wise.
Learning how to paint on-the-go and using a method more connected to daily life, trying to keep it simple makes a great deal of sense…
It is about the world around us - Painting on the go combines a cup of coffee, a walk, the dog, hanging with friends, waiting for a train, sitting on the balcony, finding a quiet moment to just sit still, breathe and really look around.
It is fast - The artwork does not need to be a masterpiece, part of a show or for sale. An artwork can be 5 minutes or four hours. It can be done in the privacy of a sketchbook or a loonie store canvas. The whole point is try your best trying, finish the painting on the spot and learn from mistakes.
It is challenging - Drawing from life vs a photo or imagination is challenging as it takes you outside of yourself, forcing to connect with the world around us.
Taking an outdoor break - Time outside helps us enjoy simple moments where we typically move around without thinking. Outside can be the balcony, the parking lot, behind the steering wheel or local park bench. It does not always mean an epic drive to Banff and sit before Moraine Lake with thousands of tourists. Painting does not have to be an expedition, nor does it mean to have a 4 foot sail on an easel. Keeping it tiny is simple, and intimate. A break outside of our mind helps relieve the intensity and freedom to let go the puzzles of the day, tuck them away for a moment, and let another part of the mind take over.
No rules on a subject - The aim is to learn how to let go of results. Sketchbooks and studies are places to explore. There are no rules. It is about practice. It is about play. It is about turning off our analytical mind and enjoy the experience from another part of our brain, just being. If if it is for only 30 seconds of a 1 hour study, it can be an amazing 30 seconds soaring with the clouds in the sky.
Link to The Rosebud Arts Collective
Painting on the go also fits well with exploring and cherishing the now. (See VanderLost via GPS for those adventures).
Rosebud is a thriving artist community just a little bit out of the way from home. I look forward to learning from many artists. Falling in love with painting, (again).
Challenges of Painting outside
Painting in the elements, the learning curve is high. For now it is trying to find a set up for all weather. Having different set ups depends on how long I have and where I am. Some set ups fit in a backpack ready to go at all times. Pictured below is a homemade easel created by my husband from an old laptop and metal clip board from the thrift shop. He worked so hard on it and his skills and talent fills my bucket as he is supportive of my rediscovery for the love of painting. For now I am focused on water based paints like watercolour, pen, gouache, acrylic and water based oils. I am a messy person and struggle just to keep colours clean on the palette itself let alone keeping off of clothing, face, dog. etc.
About the photo
The picture was taken on a windy day by my well-dressed, colour coded sun-basking neighbour fondly known as the 'Mayor of Riley Park', Sue. That day, the sun danced across the sky with the clouds, the lighting changed like a disco. It was not the best painting, but relearned so much each day. Trying out HIMI jelly gouache (Hint: Inexpensive; facebook market place is a great place to find once loved art supplies).
Nothing easier than to just walk outside and sit in the spring sunshine with fantastic neighbours.
I hope you paint along with me. Happy journey, happy painting!
