The Joy of the Unexpected Moment

Starting a quick study

Saturday morning very often means one thing in suburbia - shopping day. Of course there are a few people who will argue that they do more than shop, but the throngs of cars heading to the malls suggests shopping is big. This activity is a necessary evil yet I am not alone in trying to minimise the impact shopping has on my precious free time. I am blessed in having a wife who shares these sentiments. We will be the ones waiting outside the shop's doors as they are opened by bleary eyed shop assistants. The aim being for us to get in and out as fast as possible before the crowds arrive. 

This past Saturday was an exception. Neither my wife nor I could face this weekly expedition. The weather was cool and the wind was absent for a change. Only one thing for it - grab the paint kit and head off to the beach for a an hour or three of painting. This was not entirely selfish since my children came with too and they could get some fresh air while I did my thing with the paints.

My choice was well rewarded. Several other people had come down to the beach too and there was a good deal of surfers taking advantage of the magnificent waves. If this sounds idyllic then let me confirm it - it really was fantastic. A moment  where time flies by as you become lost in doing something you love.

Soon into my second painting I noticed a gent emerging from the surf who had been boogie boarding. Turns out he was on retirement and had started painting. He joined me to chat about art and we shared a few stories about our favorite topic. Thanks for the chat Brian and I hope to paint outdoors with you sometime.

---

Mixing and placing colour notes

A few things learnt on that morning:

• It really is not difficult to try something new like painting outdoors. Make it easier by choosing a fair weather day.
  
• The sense of communing with nature is worth the effort 
  
• You never know who you might meet and where that shared experience may take you.
  

Lessons from nature:

• the sea is seldom made up of perfectly curling viridian waves with seethrough bits. It is more often grey or dark blue/green. You will learn to see what is actually there not some formulaic seascape.
  
• Beach sand has many colour variations - at least five or six colours with value changes. It is often a dirtier version with bits and pieces of jetsam, beach grass and footprints that give more interest than some postcard fantasy. Decide what to leave in and what stays out, but see it and make a decision. This is what builds painting confidence.
  

Not every plein air foray is a success, but the same can be said of the studio too. Make it part of your overall painting experience to get a balanced view of landscape painting.

Or you could try shopping at the mall instead. Nah!

---