Full Sheet from Plein Air Painting in Long Beach, Washington

Oh, the excitement of plein air. There is a spontaneity that is hard to duplicate in the studio, however using your plein air sketches, helps you to recall and remember the sights, sounds and smells that a photo just can't. Whether you do a painting from memory ( which is a great exercise in itself ) or from your sketches your paintings will come alive and fresher the more you paint and practice. Your  head knowledge will eventually flow to your heart and out your hand. John Calvin said that about faith but it works in painting as well.

This full sheet watercolor was done from my watercolor sketch. I loved doing it and trying out my new large mop brush. It is just perfect for a full sheet watercolor. This 22"x30" is available , please contact me if you are interested. 

I also want to let you know that I am now teaching so if any of you would like me to come to your group and share what I have learned over the years  let me know. Enjoy this beautiful day !

Long Beach , Washington

    A friend of mine wanted to know where the plein air sketches I showed you last time were from, Whoops ! my mistake , goes to show you how slow re entering back into the real world can be, Haha! The sketches were from Whitby , a town I visited in the UK while enrolled in my courses.

    Today I will start you on my plein air journey through my travels this summer. The first stop is Ocean Park ,Washington. One thing I love about painting on location is you just take everything in and always remember it long after you are gone. The sights, sounds , smells. This was done at the end of the beach. We were driven out in a jeep with instructions to set up and get painting . We had until the water reached a certain rock then had to head back as the tide was coming in. What a rush of excitement that was painting as quickly as I  could , getting as many quick paintings done before we had to leave this magnificent spot. Here is one of my 11" x1 5 " paintings of this area which I later turned into a full sheet 22"x 30 " when I returned home .( YEAH ! my first full sheet painting )

I hope you enjoy seeing this plein air painting and are inspired to paint outdoors yourself one day.

Here is a the 22"x30 " I did from this when I returned home. This full sheet watercolor is available. If you are interested in it please contact me. Enjoy the rest of this beautiful gray day. We all need gray days , it makes the colors pop our even more, right ?

Watercolor Sketching and Plein air

Well as you can see I have taken a six month break since my last post. It is amazing how much more time one has when away from their computer. What have I been doing ? Lots and lots of things but what I want to share with you is I have been sketching , sketching and sketching and have been blessed with unbelievable opportunities for plein air painting this last six months . I will be sharing those with you as I try to re enter the world and do hope you receive not only joy from viewing them but become inspired to try these things yourself. I will be glad to help you.

There are four little sketches in this picture . It is a 1/4 sheet of watercolor paper taped off into four sections. Sketches were done quickly on location and I then added a watercolor wash later on in my hotel room. They can now be easily framed, cut and glued into a book or made into cards , jut use your imagination . I do hope you use this idea on your next adventure whether out and about in your neighborhood or on your travels. 

See you next time .