Every Tuesday evening, weather permitting, a group of us go to locations around the Comox Valley to plein air paint. We paint for about 1 1/2 - 2 hours and then finish off at the pub. The Tuesday before I went on my road trip we went to a farm that we often paint at - here's me painting. I had my 4 y/o grandson with me and he took the picture.

Here's the completed painting. It's painted with artisans on an 11x14 canvas. It was actually painted over another painting that I scrubbed out - I used what was left of the other painting and a thin wash of sienna for the base, which shows through in places. I only worked on this for about 45 minutes, then took my grandson for a walk along the fields - he finished his paintings in about 5 minutes.

Sofie, Beautiful painting! The Sienna that you used for the wash worked very well!

Congrats to the successful photographer as well!

Last night I did this whole post and then lost my connection and lost it all. I went out painting at a place called Goose Spit, so I had a chance to try water once more. This time I got smart and placed the horizon line low - that way I had way less water to paint. This photo is way too blue - I lent my sister my camera so I had to dig my old one out and it just goes crazy on the blue. This was painted on an 11x14 canvas - the one I'd painted the week before, with the painting washed off while still wet. I used cerulean blue hue, prussian blue, dioxazine purple, raw sienna, cad yellow pale hue, naples yellow and titanium white. This took about 40 minutes. If you look closely you'll see some grainy texture. My grandson was playing with his sand toys and accidentally sprayed my canvas.

The sand just adds realism to the painting.
Judy

I think I might be able to dust most of it off when the painting dries - I'll keep you posted.

Sofie - You're good, only 45 min. I guess with a little one that's about all the time you have and then that's pushing it -- they do get antsy.

Thank you for sharing -- love seeing your work.

I do have a question when you paint over another piece do you usually sand it down some in between the base?

Thanks Dana

I'm still experimenting with painting over the wso - with acrylics it's so easy just to slap on a coat of gesso, but can't do that with oils. Luckily, wso paint washes off really well, even after a couple of months. I just pop it in my sink and use warm water and soap and a scrub brush. There is staining left behind on the canvas, but I usually incorporate that in a thin base wash of colour. I haven't painted over anything that's more than 6 months old yet, but I think a sanding would help, especially if the paint is thick. For some paitings I don't mind a bit of texture underneath anyway.

Sofie,

Thank you that's great information....I would have never thought to put it in the sink and scrub the canvas right there, then you just hang it up to dry -- lol.

Thank you again---it is wonderful to have you all and the help, information, and encouragement --- You are GREAT!!!

Sofie I'm astonished at your fortitude, being able to concentrate with a young one running around. How about letting us see your Grandson's paintings, a five minute painter eh!

Jack

Sofie, the colors are beautiful!

Both of your paintings are great! Thanks for the info on scrubbing the paint off the canvas. That gives me a better excuse to buy good canvases--in the long run they may be cheaper.

Dayle

Thanks everybody. I'll try to get a better photo of the blue one - I have my camera back now.

Here is tonight's location shot. It was such a beautiful evening - still very hot in the sun so everyone found a shady spot except me. I just ensured that I was looking away from the sun. This location is a small slough right in town where people moor their boats. I didn't want to attempt a boat painting in the short space of time available, so I painted the trees on the far bank - the rising slope of park behind the trees was all lit up by the sun. In this photo you cannot see the reflections in the water or the details on the bank.