Outdoor Painting

Oatley Park August 2010

Janet B doing a whimsical sketch of The Castle.

Noel, Jacqui, Janette, Janet B, Des and Michael (taking the photo).

Balmoral Beach Wed 12 May 2010.
Eight of us had a wonderful day painting and chatting at this historic site where the Australian Impressionist painters such as Streeton, McCubbin, Roberts, and Gruner etc painted early in the nineteenth century.
From left to right: Joy, Marcia, Noel K, Noel C, Janette, Robyn, Michael and Des.
This outing involved Oatley 101 Art Soc, Southern Cross Art Group and Sutherland Shire Art Society.We all have many photos from which to create some good paintings. The trip by train, ferry and bus (all for $2.50) was a relaxed way to travel.

There is no longer a formal plein air program. If an individual artist wishes to to paint outdoors he or she can organise that with other interested members at any time or any day that suits them. No charge is involved of course.

We always stop for a morning tea break and lunch. You can bring your own, or if we are near shops, you might want to buy it.

The whole thing is to be relaxed and do what you want. We paint, chat, help each other and enjoy being in a safe environment outdoors. It’s a bit hard to paint out on your own these days so the safety of a group is great.

Some great artist said, “one second of plein air painting is worth a thousand years in the studio”. Bit of an exaggeration, but he was making the point that it is important to go out there and capture the light. You learn so much and enliven your paintings.

Some tips for ‘Plein Air’ painters

You’ll need:

• All your equipment whether oils, acrylics, watercolour, pastel, pencil or other. They all work.
• Clothing appropriate for the weather conditions anticipated – a warm coat in winter and a warm hat as you lose a lot of warmth through your head and a hat makes a big difference.
• Generally a broad brimmed hat is recommended on hot or glary days as it helps protect against skin cancer and protects the eyes from glare.
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent for those pesky flies.
• A raincoat or umbrella if there is a chance of rain. There is nothing worse than getting drenched.
• A French Easel or tripod is essential for painting. If you are sketching or doing water colour you will want to bring a chair.
• A thermos, morning tea and lunch are essential to keep up your energy.
• Water-bottle
• Your camera is important if you wish to finish off your work at home. Also, you may see other scenes you will want to paint later.
• A mobile phone is useful for meeting up and for safety.
• Soap or hand cleaner and towel so you don’t get those paint fingerprints on your car.
• A chair and perhaps a trolley to cart all your gear, which doubles as a table of sorts.
  Something in which to place the wet canvas so you can carry it home in the car.
• While painting keep the sun off your canvas/paper etc and off your palette otherwise when you look at your work back at home it will be subdued in intensity. So paint in the shade of a tree if possible.