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Marjorie Firth

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I was reading the latest news from The Artist online ( e mail ) and was a mite confused. One of the artists featured was describing the difficulties of painting outside - gusts of wind, insects etc - and I thought, yes, been there....then she went on to talk about what she was painting - a wolf! Where could she be, I thought, to paint a wolf en plein air? Reading further...it was from photos! Er...what is the point of that? Surely, if you have to be outside, then paint something actually in front of you. As I understood it, it was raising money for charity etc but still, it did seem a little strange.
michael

Michael Edwards

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I fancy painting a charging elephant en plein air but it would have to be a quick one.
Sef on final snow field Ghondor Peak2

Malcolm Buckley

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I did paint an avalanche en plein air once ! OH OK, I was on a mountain painting a scene of another mountain and an avalanch started on one of the slopes nearby and some of the spindrift came my way and landed on my painting, but it makes a good fishermans/artists tale. I was on a safe part of the mountain by the way.

Alan Bickley

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Well Marjorie, like many artist's, my first choice would always be to paint en plein air, however, certain subjects, such as for example my Potteries project which I am currently working on is of course impossible as we can't turn the clock back eighty years. I still enjoy taking my easel into the garden though and sitting under the shade of a parasol or as today, a large Beach tree and painting happily away 'en fresh air', yes, insects permitting I know, but a minor hazard. If it was a blustery day mind you I wouldn't waste my time trying, been there as most of us have. There seems to be a distinct lack of wolves in Staffordshire at present, pity really, that could be interesting.

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by alanbickley

Peter Davison

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Spent last Tuesday painting on the Yorkshire moors in a gale of wind and decidedly cool temperatures. No wolves but a very nice pub within easy reach for lunch. Great day out and best way to paint...and my painting became looser and more expressionist after the lunchtime wine!

Holly Bridlington

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Hi Marjorie, I took your post to mean that you don't enjoy painting out of doors unless you have to or your subject is outside. I hope I didn't misunderstand. I wouldn't paint outside if it were too windy, dusty or cold. Period. But if the day were fine, and the studio too hot, why not? It wouldn't matter much to me what my subject matter. I hadn't thought about the 'fisherman's tale' aspect of it though. A painting of a duststorm or the like might gain more authenticity from the dust getting into the paint... I think I'll leave that experiment to other artists though. :ermm:

Keith Orange

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Thanks for the location, it's about 60 miles from where I live so probably not worth the long journey.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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I went out for a long walk today, over some rough terrain - I wanted to visit a local cave complex (it's not that complex, but it is a cave in the inland cliff, with a tunnel that I presume was at least partly man-made, many years ago). Took the camera with me, because there is simply no way in the world I could have drawn it - I thought. And it would have been difficult. So I took photographs. And they're OK --- it should be possible to work from them. But I'd have done so much better to have taken a small sketch-book and a carbon pencil, or a few coloured pencils. I didn't think I could handle them in the thick undergrowth and underfoot slipperiness, but on reflection they'd have been no harder than trying to get a decent shot with the camera. So on the whole - I think Sylvia's right; I damn' near went tip over fundament anyway - true, I wouldn't have wanted to lose my sketchbook in the mud and brambles, but would I rather have lost the camera? Anyway - there we are. I'll see what I can do with the pictures I've taken, but if they're not good enough to work from I'll have to go out again anyway. The cave, by the way, is known as The Elephant Hole - just so's you know...