Plein Air Rookie

[atrox]

Howdy all, this is my first post here in the Plein Air forum. I've been posting over at the landscape forum but something happened about 3 weeks ago that made a major impact on my artistic pursuit. I attended a Matt Smith and Ralph Oberg, Plein Air class in Colorado. Both of those two guys are super nice people and of course outstanding artist. I must say the first day for me was very overwhelming (that's an understatement). But by the time the class ended I felt I had at least found my feet. The images below represent the last two from the workshop and three that I did after returning home. You can see the subject matter is not near as nice here in Dallas, TX as it was in Ridgeway, CO. C&C are requested and welcomed!

[RandyP]

Richard,

All of these are very good, but the top three are Stellar! Bravo!! :clap: :clap: :clap:

Randy

[Viyi]

ditto, the top three had the mood on. (like my 12 year old says) :D

Love your colors.

[coh]

Richard,

These are all really good. I find myself drawn to the first - simple composition
but very effective. Also like the clouds in the 4th a lot.

Curious about your technique - what color palette did you use? What size
are these and how long did they take - did you have to do any modifications
in the studio?

I see from looking at your earlier threads that at one time you were using
the "Christenson palette", a red/blue/yellow + the 2 greys. Were these
done with a similar palette? Did the workshop instructors recommend that
type of palette?

Looking forward to seeing more paintings!

Chris

[atrox]

Thanks Randy, Viyi and Chris;

All of them are 6X8. I spent from 1 - 1 1/2 hours on each one and they were all done onsite (no touch ups). I know they could use some but I wanted to keep them as studies and as progress markers.

I did start the workshop with the a limited palette "Christenson" but at the suggestion of Matt Smith I mixed up some yellow ochre and burnt sennia to use as modifiers. I found that I was taking to much time mixing colors (which is no problem in studio) so I have added more colors when I go outside. So at present, I'm using; Ultramarine blue, Cerulean blue, Perm Red med, Cad yellow Lemon, veridian, cad orange, modifiers (burnt sennia, yellow ochre, dark and light grey).

I really like working with the limited palette better ( and will continue to do so in the studio) but for outside it make sense to save time using additional colors.

[frisbee1948]

Thanks Randy, Viyi and Chris;

I did start the workshop with the a limited palette "Christenson" but at the suggestion of Matt Smith I mixed up some yellow ochre and burnt sennia to use as modifiers.

Hmmmm, what is a modifier? Do you mix the YO and BS together? What do you use it for?

[Gilberte]

What a lovely series of landscapes !

[Bobbo]

rock on...rookie!!
excellllent!!

[Lemonhead]

Richard,

These are phenominal, you are also lucky to have taken a class with Matt Smith!! He makes it look so easy, loved his work for years.

I really like the colors in the first and third ones the best. Right 'click' saved each of them. Keep posting your progress.

BTW- I will have to try yellow ochre and BS on my palette.

-Jeff

[m r pacitti]

Richard, really nice work. Love the brushwork and colors. :clap: Mike

[Lorijo]

You are a rookie?! You look like an expert to me! I like the second one the best and the last but they are all fabulous. Lorijo

[Dharma_bum]

Like 'em all, but second and last are my favorites. Great treatment of the water in the second. Don't worry about the "subject matter" around Dallas, it is what you do with it that counts. I don't think the last three suffer from dullness in the least. Mountains are nice, but not indispensible.

You were indeed fortunate to get into Matt's class. I understand that to get into his class at the Scottsdale Artist school, there is a lottery system in place, and you have to submit samples of your work to get in the lottery!Who sposnsored this class, and where did you hear about it? Did you have to jump through any hoops? I would love to try that next year. Must have been a fabulous experience.

Dan

[atrox]

Thanks everyone for the encouraging remarks.

Dan, I guess I just lucked into it. The class was run through "Ross Workshops". I don't have a clue who Ross is but I found the sign up info through Matt's website. I emailed Tracy Avant the contact person linked to Matt's site. It turn out that one week before the class someone canceled and I happen to have email about that time. I got a phone call one week before the class asking if I wanted to attend. Like I said, I lucked out! I gotta to tell ya, it was super fantastic! Both Matt and Ralph are very approachable and all around nice guys. Either one would have been great but to have them both at the same time........ Lucky!

frisbee1948, Matt and Ralph both used BS and YO to modify stronger colors by mixing in small amounts to mute or tone them down. I gotta admit I put them on my palette but use them very little (at least so far). Both Matt and Ralph had a more colors than I had brought. Ralph's list suggested Ti White, Viridian, Sap Green, Cobalt Blue, UltraM Blue, Alizarin, Cad Red light, Cad orange, Cad Yellow med, Cad yellow pale or Cad yellow lemon,Yellow Ochre, Burnt Senna and Mauve.

[woodguy]

All are great. but the first one really grabs me! Jim

[Tony Perrotta]

Hi Richard, Welcome to the Plein Air forum and I hope you keep up the Plein Air work too. You work is very nice indeed. I have a great book by Ted Goershner, he uses and recommends using greys too, 4 of them. I have been using them a little but don't seem to need them all that much, it's nice to have them premixed and just put them on the pallete. Hope to see more posts from you.

Regards Tony :)

[atrox]

thanks Tony and Woodguy. I appreciate the comments and the welcome.

[JamieWG]

Richard, I'm glad you made it here to the Plein Air forum! Didn't I tell you it was a great group of folks? ;)

These don't have a "rookie" look to them at all! I especially like the first three paintings you posted. Of those, the third is my favorite. I love the way you used the color on that one. You obviously have oodles of talent here. I'm looking forward to seeing more.

Jamie

[annabella2]

wonderful paintings- don't you just love going to workshops?
I am really attracted to the first three as well, tho all five are
quite good. :clap:

[atrox]

Thanks Anne and Jamie. Yes Jamie, your right about this forum and the people here. But I've know that for a while now even though I had never posted here. I've always been most impressed with the quality of work and level of support expressed here. By the way, I'm happy to see you like the third painting, I think it's my favorite also. :D

[Marc Hanson]

Welcome Richard,

Great job whether you're new or not! You must have listened and practiced very hard because you are showing some great qualities in your work aleady. Look forward to seeing more of your work.