Notes from Artists' Network Free Weekend Videos

I love free trials. I hate when they end. One day, perhaps, I'll be able to subscribe for 6 months and get to watch the ones I want as much and as often as I'd like.  Here are the notes from Pastel Techniques in Plein Air. In an upcoming post I will recount my first true plein air experience. It ain't like paintin' in the backyard.  I hope between these notes, Preston's directions and beginning experience that I'll eventually graduate to plein air--I think I need to aspire to an apple. I think that would be a fitting plein air for me. :-)

NOTES: 

Pastel Techniques for Plein Air Painting with Stephanie Birdsall

Dress in Neutral colors

Large shapes

Move horizon line if too close to center

Look at values--dark/light; dark/light

Consider alcohol to go over initial block in; not heavy, don’t want to lose tooth--dampen large brush; tap on paper towel so it’s not too wet; help create block in or under painting with the alcohol

Try ampersand or kitty wallis paper

What a good point: you should not have someone have to ask you what time of day your painting is; it should be obvious

Also, get darks down and they will direct the painting --yep, yep. That is what preston did yesterday, and what I did, to a lesser degree.

Trust yourself. [MY note to me]

Lay in a under painting in a monochromatic color, like brown, as in yesterday or sienna or whatever

After the under painting, begin working dark to light in the local color