Last week, we went camping in the Adirondacks near Lake Placid. For the first time in a camping trip, I brought my watercolour painting supplies to use at camp. We stayed in a lean-to (see photo below) that was near a small lake (Heart Lake). This provide some great opportunities.
I love camping in remote areas and adding plein air painting to the experience was an absolute pleasure. That area is so beautiful and I'm always in awe when trying to take it all in. It's not easy to convert the moment onto paper. It's not easy to focus on the painting because all the elements are screaming at you. All you can really do is capture the mood of the moment.
When you start the painting all you have is the white of the paper, but then you look up there is a very different problem with the staggering amount of visual material available as your eyes wander. Wherever you turn your head, there is more to see! It is a reality that the painter has to accept. Deciding what to paint is not easy since you can’t paint everything you see! Even if that were possible, what would be the point? Isn’t the artistry in the choosing?
I am new to plein air painting and still have much to learn, however, I can confirm that it won't be my last experience of combining painting while camping.
The paintings produced on those trips are not the best, however, they do bring be back the mood of that area which is so peaceful and beautiful. Each painting was done in about 30-45 minutes.
The first one is a view of Mount Jo at sundown.
The second one is another view of Heart Lake - late afternoon.
The third one is the view from our campsite.
Have a great week,
Danielle
I love camping in remote areas and adding plein air painting to the experience was an absolute pleasure. That area is so beautiful and I'm always in awe when trying to take it all in. It's not easy to convert the moment onto paper. It's not easy to focus on the painting because all the elements are screaming at you. All you can really do is capture the mood of the moment.
When you start the painting all you have is the white of the paper, but then you look up there is a very different problem with the staggering amount of visual material available as your eyes wander. Wherever you turn your head, there is more to see! It is a reality that the painter has to accept. Deciding what to paint is not easy since you can’t paint everything you see! Even if that were possible, what would be the point? Isn’t the artistry in the choosing?
I am new to plein air painting and still have much to learn, however, I can confirm that it won't be my last experience of combining painting while camping.
The paintings produced on those trips are not the best, however, they do bring be back the mood of that area which is so peaceful and beautiful. Each painting was done in about 30-45 minutes.
The first one is a view of Mount Jo at sundown.
Have a great week,
Danielle
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