Orange Roses in Turquoise

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I have a love-hate relationship with painting in natural light. I hate that painting in natural light means painting in ever changing light which of course, is frustrating and confusing and turns up the pressure. However, painting in natural light also means I don't have enough time to get fussy or to over work and over paint the subject. Ultimately, if all goes well, and I get the piece done in natural light, I am left with a painting that reflects decisive value choices, deliberate brush strokes and an overall loose, painterly feeling. In other words, I end up with the kind of painting I want to make. Moral of the story, get out of the shadow box and into the light.

Lattice Roses

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This is a little painting I did last week in preparation for the plein aire workshop I am taking this week with artist Ben Fenske. Ironically, this painting was not really helpful at all. What I am learning this week about my landscape painting, is that I tend to miss the "big picture," by focusing on a "detail" in the scene. (I not only stop to smell the roses, but I get too close and paint them, too.)  It has been difficult for me to paint with a wide range of vision. I am working on it, and will post more paintings from the workshop in the next few days.