Painting outside changes the way I see. When wind moves the grasses and clouds shift across a mountain, decisions must be swift and honest. Plein air work teaches me to choose what matters and let the rest go.
Choosing the Scene
I look for a simple arrangement of big, readable shapes—sky, land, water, tree line. Once the structure is clear, I decide the mood. Morning light asks for gentler edges; late afternoon often calls for strong contrasts and warm notes in the shadows.
Color Notes and Speed
Because light changes every minute, I work small and fast. I mix limited palettes that match the day’s atmosphere and lay down color notes with confidence. The aim is not detail but truth: the cool of distant hills, the warmth along a sunlit path, the soft violet in a receding shadow.
From Field Study to Studio Canvas
Back in the studio, these studies become guides for larger pieces. I keep the freshness of the sketch while refining transitions and edges. Memory helps: I try to retain the breeze, the scent of earth, the exact timbre of the sky.
Why It Matters
Plein air painting reminds me that nature is never still. Each finished landscape is a record of time passing and light arriving—brief, honest, and alive.