Painting Small Towns

Having a plein air painting buddy is a great way to push yourself to get out there, paint, and improve. Just knowing that someone is expecting me to show up adds a point of accountability forcing me out of bed when I'm tired, and making an effort to overcome my natural 'hermitiness'.

This week we met on Woodland Street again, but a few steps further north. This was my view.

"Rich Street" - oil - 11"x 14" - L. Wiedemer

I used a canvas board with super heavy gesso applied for added texture. I neglected to get in progress photos because I was hurrying in an effort to beat the heat. This time I just dove in sketching my design with thinned paint - no toning the canvas today.

By the end of our session I was baking in the sun. Next week we will try starting a half hour earlier.

I tinkered a good bit with this later in the studio. I decided to add some flower pots on the left, put a few birds on the wire, and deepened some shadows.

See Dick Draw See Jane Paint

A new painter friend and I met in downtown DeLand, Fl. to paint this morning. DeLand is full of charm and it can be difficult choosing one scene over another. This time we settled on painting the artsy cafe across the street called Dick & Janes.

It's cute isn't it! My friend was painting in watercolor and I was using oils on a 11" x 14" canvas covered board.

I toned the canvas lightly just to get me started. Then sketched in my design with thinned paint.

At this point I was 95% finished and we decided to break for lunch.

I just added some lettering and I think this might be done.

Stay tuned to see what we will be painting around town next week!

Do you paint your hometown charm? Do you prefer to go solo painting or with a friend? Let's talk about it.