Michaelis Ranch sheds

8x10 oil on stretched cotton canvas
$75 (email me if interested)
Another plein aire outing with the Austin group. The Michaelis Ranch in Kyle, Texas is on the U.S. Department of the Interior's list of National Register of Historic Places. There were so many wonderful painting ops. Being new at this plein aire thing, I think my biggest obstacle is composition. I am so used to painting from photos that I can crop to set my own boundaries. When painting on location I see all around. As on this painting I feel as if the shed in the foreground is too dominate on one side which to me throws of the balance of my composition. On a positive note I do feel as though plein aire painting is going to help me paint only the important details. I have alot to learn but I am enjoying every minute of it.

Rio Vista Park

8x10 oil on stretched cotton canvas
$75 (email me if interested)

I recently joined Plein Aire Austin a group from Austin, Texas and surrounding areas. My first outing with them was this past Saturday at a park in San Marcos, Texas. To get me out there painting I knew I would have to follow some established veterans of plein aire. I confess, I am a sheep. I loved it! They are a bunch of wonderful painters and it was so nice being out in the fresh air, it was a beautiful day. The colors! After I got home and compared what I had painted and the photo I took, I was amazed at the intensity of colors that was lost in the photo. I WILL be painting plein aire more!