California Plein Air

Enjoyed a nice fourth of July at Lake Tahoe with my wife and baby girl Sophie.  So many amazing memories made with the girls!!  Was able to sneak away during a couple of naps and get some plein air painting in. Here is a quick painting I worked on...on the shores of north Lake Tahoe, just east of Tahoe City.  

In a lot of ways I find Plein Air painting to be like golf for me.  Every time out is equally enjoyable and humbling.  A great hobby where I spend time appreciating the beauty of nature and the challenge of getting the most out of myself with my art in a very short period of time.  This was only the third small outdoor paiting I have done since last fall and I am hoping the rust begins to really come off soon.  Hope you enjoy it.

Best, 

                    

 Josh Smith

PS.  Everytime I am in Tahoe I am scratching my head wondering why I haven't gotten out to see Clear Creek, the Coore and Crenshaw course down the road towards Carson City.  Got to make that happen.

Excitement of Plein Air

Painting Outdoors is a very exciting challenge. I remember a few years ago thinking that I would always be a studio oil painter. Hearing experts say that the best way to evolve your oil paintings for the better is to paint Plein Air. I believed them, but had no plans to start. Upon further review... I have started and it has to be one of the best hobbies ever. A cool wooden box and tripod. Surveying the potential landscapes and the decisiveness you must have to narrow it to one particular scene in the landscape and then figure out how you will crop it. The quick layout of that crop. The serenity of being alone in nature. The rapid pace that you work at in order to take in all that the scene offers before the lighting changes. Deciding when you are finished. And leaving with a great souvenir that will last forever and be a great start/sample if you choose to paint something larger of the same scene. How many millions of color combinations exist in Nature? I hope to narrow that down month by month over the years and find new colors to put up on canvas. Here are Plein Airs number 9 and 10. Buoys await at Lake Tahoe

A view of Pacific Grove, CA

Cheers... Josh Smith