Summer is practically the only time I can paint. I have to be in the mood and once there need to relinquish everything else as it becomes all consuming.
I booked myself on a two day course for the first time with South West Art back in Spring. I sourced a portable easel second hand as my studio one is too big. Excited by the prospect of painting en plein air, I counted and recounted my brushes and purchased the necessary acrylics, stashing them into my ancient box – wondering how one actually carries the equipment to the location.
Super excited, slightly nervous, I turned up to meet the other participants- all seasoned enthusiasts and professionals, all regularly exhibiting … and then there was me.
I wanted that course as I’ve known artist Phil Creek for years, professionally as art advisor for Devon Schools and more recently collecting his work, one of which he painted especially for us. I love his style ; I was keen to learn.
I may have been from the weakest starting point, yet in two days all I did was learn. I watched… I listened… I had a go.
The technique: One 1 in brush, no drawing. First layer simply make broad lines – no dabbing , single strokes , looking for blocks of colour and cover the page. Never paint like painting a wall – single strokes with same 1 in brush again over the first layer. Repeat the layers- use the brush on its side or tip for fine marks.
Day 2 we learnt to draw people – just giving a suggestion all with 1 in brush then with rigger brush to finish. The idea is not to suddenly return to a detail style or the painting becomes confused, looking as though it has been done by another hand.
En plein air was hard – the time, the weather, the crowds. We carried our load of equipment down to the beach. I was keen to see how others dealt with it – trollies, hold-alls and the like . Easel in one hand, box in the other and a rucksack, we ended up at the Ham, Sidmouth, looking at the cliff above which my grandparents lived. When I was seven, could I have ever envisaged that one day I would be back painting the view ?
Two days well spent.
Ruth Partridge 