American Ruins

Finally got a chance to get out and do some plein air last weekend! I am an accountant in my daily life, so the past couple of months have been pretty hectic for me. Last weekend I designated it, “Art Weekend” and took off work for a 4 day weekend! This little sketch was done in Porterfield, Wisconsin—it was part of a pig farm—with the pig shelter to the left, the silo with food to the right..farther to the right, which I left out, was an old three story, brick smoker. I loved the gray colors and the dark red of the brush. Snow is beginning to melt here—so there was plenty of brush of different colors to paint. This was done in my watercolor moleskine, which is almost filled! I used my Koi Travel Kit along with a Niji waterbrush. The kit was really nice, love the colors it has!

Blogging note: I apologize for no blogs for awhile. I have gotten a new computer with Windows 7, so it took me awhile to move everything and learn the new system, which is really nice! I will try and be more consistent in my blogs! I promise!

Why I Paint.....

Baling time -- Watercolor in Moleskine w/c journal

An artist friend of mine is having a plein air paint out this weekend in Central Wisconsin. She wrote me today to ask me if she could use something I wrote a few years ago to our painting group. I was trying to encourage others who haven't painted outside their studios to try something different. She kept my letter all this time. I had forgotten I wrote it! But, it about sums it up on how I feel about painting plein air, so I thought I would share it. If anyone is in the Central Wisconsin Area and would like to join us, please follow this link:

http://barnardstudio.wordpress.com

Plein Thoughts--
Plein air painting can be challenging. Not only do you have to have
your studio with you, you have to be aware of weather
conditions..and try and plan for them...with clothes, places to
paint, etc. Sometimes all you can paint is through your front room
window! The light changes...people move in front of your
subjects...rain/snow/sleet/hail happens.

Some of you don't have much experience in plein air painting. That
is ok. Experience will help you in what to bring along. I am no
expert...in my medium or in painting. But, I am a lover of plein
air painting. I feel there is nothing like it. You are IN the
landscape...you FEEL the wind and sun on your face...you HEAR the
birds...rain...children learning to fish....you SMELL the flowers
and the foliage. You SEE the rich colors of the landscape...in a
way that can't be duplicated in a photo. The nuances of light on a
pond or stream, the cloud formations. They are ALL 100% real! Talk
about a REALITY SHOW!! We ARE IN IT!!

No matter if you feel that you did well or poorly at your
painting...you learned something..experienced something...that will
help you in all your art. To push yourself is to grow...and to grow
as an artist...will help you in your studio work...no matter if you
paint flowers or people...it's ALL good! Some people throw out
their "failures" some people save them and record their efforts to
see how they have progressed in 10 paintings...100 paintings. I
like to keep mine...and not fuss with them much after I get them
home...no matter if they are mud...or wonderful....they are an
effort...my best at the time...of what was in front of me...of what
I experienced.

Vincent was driven to paint...lighting candles on top of his
hat...painting in severe weather--local and professional
ridicule...he was driven to paint what inspired him. Monet painted
plein air as his sight was failing and painted in severe
conditions. He actually BUILT his garden to paint it! Renoir had
his assistants belt his brushes around his wrists so he could paint
as his hands were crippled with arthritis.

We paint light..we paint life.

Sorry for going on and on...painting plein air is a subject I am
very passionate about!

Nancy Patterson

Northwoods Plein Air Painters

Hope all my readers get out there an experience this wonderful feeling! Thank you for reading and visiting my blog.

Welcome to My Blog

"First to go", watercolor sketch in Moleskine W/C sketchbook

We are already beginning to show signs of color in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. The first plant to turn are the forest ferns, which look like a blaze of fire on the forest floor. This was painted this morning using my little Cotman watercolor field kit and Niji waterbrushes. This little path leads into the forest behind our home and circles the lake.

For an introduction, I have always enjoyed reading blogs of other artists, but have been a bit shy about posting my own. I thought this would be a great way to show my friends and readers what I have been doing.

I enjoy painting plein aire and am currently in love with painting in my little moleskine watercolor sketchbook. I also paint in oils and pastels. Sometimes I even bring my acrylics out in the daylight...but I usually work in acrylics in my studio. I try to do some art each day, even if it is just a sketch from my window.

Before living in the country, I was a total city person. Loved going to coffee shops and museums. Ok...I still love those things, but there was the lure of being able to see things that I could never see in the city...deer grooming their fawns, bears with their cubs, even little things like the habits of chipmunks as they procure our sunflower seeds for the winter.

I hope you enjoy reading of my adventures in art and nature.