Pleine Aire Landscape

bbbilly1326 · #1 06-23-2001, 01:37 PM

I did this today on my balcony, of the hill across the valley.

It's also posted on Critiques, but I figure I can use all the help I can get

I tried not to blend, and just to LOOK at the painting a lot to decide where to put the next stroke, very new for me, more premeditated.

Anyway, I'll appreciate all comments and suggestions.

o/c 16"x20"

Bill

Robert · #2 06-23-2001, 03:14 PM

Hey Billy. This has a location look to it. I'm not much for critiques - I've tried it before and usually don't know what I'm talking about. I know that what you're doing is difficult because I'm attempting the same thing. Alla prima outdoor painting is the most challenging sort of painting I've personally ever done - but the most satisfying, too. How do you like it?

Bob

bbbilly1326 · #3 06-23-2001, 03:25 PM

Hi Bob,

I agree, it's challenging. I've done pleine aire before but not alla prima --I've always known I could and would finish it off in the studio, and that I could make mistakes or not have to be too careful.

With this one, I decided I would try to be careful AND spontaneous, a near impossible combo

I always feel inspired with the direct contact with natural beauty in painting outdoors. I think I'll do more of it, just to try to develop the alla prima skills, particularly color and value sensitivity, just like you're trying to do --I saw your work here.

Regards, Bill

Phyllis Rennie · #4 06-23-2001, 06:30 PM

Looks good, Billy!

Interesting brushwork & lots of color variation in both the sky and the ground. Looks sunny, too.

Maybe could use a little less regularity in the placement of the trees but that is my only suggestion. And I have seen hillsides where the trees were growing that way so maybe this is what you were looking at.

It is exciting painting outdoors this way and I think your excitement really shows in this painting--and the whole point is to convey a feeling so I think you've done well. Phyl

animal · #5 06-23-2001, 08:56 PM

I especially like the colours you have used and the compostion of the painting.

blondheim12 · #6 06-24-2001, 10:42 AM

Bill,
I really like this painting. It has an immediacy, and painterly quality that I love. Isn't alla prima fun?
I love it too.
Keep up the great paintings.
Love,
Linda

bbbilly1326 · #7 06-24-2001, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Phyllis Rennie
Looks good, Billy!

Interesting brushwork & lots of color variation in both the sky and the ground. Looks sunny, too.

Maybe could use a little less regularity in the placement of the trees but that is my only suggestion. And I have seen hillsides where the trees were growing that way so maybe this is what you were looking at.

It is exciting painting outdoors this way and I think your excitement really shows in this painting--and the whole point is to convey a feeling so I think you've done well. Phyl

Thank you Phyllis. It's much more exciting painting outdoors.

Thanks Animal.

Thanks Linda, I'm trying to be more painterly, so your compliment is especially meaningful.

Bill

LarrySeiler · #8 06-24-2001, 12:33 PM

Agreed....it has that "on location" look.

I don't have a great deal of time to critique at the moment, but what I immediately thought would be interesting, Bill, would be to see you assign yourself the same painting, but make the next one with emphasis on big sky. Painting the ridge and trees well low in the painting, bottom 1/4th ...which will call for you to create an interesting sky and cloud cover.

Curious what color mixtures you might remember using to create your dark masses???

Larry

bbbilly1326 · #9 06-24-2001, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lseiler
Agreed....it has that "on location" look.

I don't have a great deal of time to critique at the moment, but what I immediately thought would be interesting, Bill, would be to see you assign yourself the same painting, but make the next one with emphasis on big sky. Painting the ridge and trees well low in the painting, bottom 1/4th ...which will call for you to create an interesting sky and cloud cover.

Curious what color mixtures you might remember using to create your dark masses???

Larry

Hi Larry,

Thanks for taking the time to look at this. I think your suggestion is a great idea; I love big skies, and find it very difficult to do them well. I will do what you suggest and see how it works out with this new (for me) technique. I found that with this sky, it almost resolved itself once I started to just put the paint on and leave it there.

In the dark foregroud masses I used mostly sap green, and alizarin crimson, with some burnt umber and some ultramarine blue.

Regards, Bill

LarrySeiler · #10 06-24-2001, 09:36 PM

sounds like a good palette mix for darks, Billy!

Looking forward now to seeing your big sky attempt!!!

Larry

Rose Queen · #11 06-25-2001, 04:09 PM

OK, somebody out there please tell us rank amateurs what "alla prima" means....please?

Robert · #12 06-25-2001, 04:34 PM

"Alla prima" means "at the first". It means that you paint it all the first time, with only minor touchups later, which also means that you paint wet into wet and try not to make a muddy mess

.
It ain't easy.

LarrySeiler · #13 06-25-2001, 05:14 PM

Yes Bob.....you are right. It is spontaneous, immediate, very honest and direct. Frans Hals was the first known alla primist, and a master. Twelve brushstrokes I counted for him on one painting to paint the most perfect anatomically gestured hand.

Plein air painters, such as I...do not necessarily paint "alla prima", as they might go back to the same location 3-5 times to finish a larger piece.

For the most part, I am a plein air alla primist, painting on location in the open air and finishing in one session.

It is quite fun....quite invigorating, and the challenge equals as far as I'm concerned, the runner's high that athletes experience.

Larry

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