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.

Painting Sunshine on Canal Street

Our plein air painting group finally caught a break with the weather, so we met on Canal Street in New Smyrna Beach.
The sun was shining with nary a cloud in the sky.

If you know Canal Street, you are aware that it is popular with tourists and locals alike. It is lined with quaint shops, restaurants, and galleries. I love to hear the comments of people who stop to look. My favorite this day was "Oh! Fancy!".

This is where I set up. I started out enjoying the shade cast by the building across the street, but all too soon I found myself in full sun and beginning to burn.

I wear sunglasses to help me to not paint too dark in full sun. But even the shades couldn't eliminate all of the glare on this bright day.

Here is my "Got A Minute?" progress video. It even came in at just under a minute this week! Now who doesn't have a spare 57 seconds?

Back in the studio I took this picture of the finished painting.

"Canal Street" - oil - 8"x 10" - Leah Wiedemer - $280

Please leave a comment and tell me your thoughts. - thank you!