Emerald Glow 10 x 8 pastel on board





Back to Plein Air

After a difficult year with my broken arm and a very hot summer, I've been able to get outside to paint this month and it's been wonderful. We are finally having a spate of beautiful weather and I'm really enjoying being outside again. I'm giving a plein air class on Fridays and going out to paint on my own on Saturday. This picture was my first painting on Friday at Lake Needwood, a park here in Rockville that I've painted at in the past. I immediately spotted the beautiful green reflections in the water juxtaposed by the darks and decided this was my painting. It's being able to see simple compositions like this that makes plein air painting so challenging and rewarding.

Lakeshore 14 x 11 pastel on board

This was my second painting of the day on Friday during my plein air class. I was looking at a large bank of rather boaring trees, but spotted the grouping of three trees that I decided to focus on. It gave me confidence that I could always find something of interest to paint!

Needwood Reflections 14 x 11 pastel on board

I painted this scene last Saturday after my Friday plein air class. I went back to a different location and found this to be a really beautiful spot, even if it was right by the road.

I kept my color palette to blues and blue greens, along with the warmer colors, and eliminated most of the violets that I often favor. The reflections kept changing, of course, but that's part of the challenge.