![]() En plein air, a French phrase meaning “in the open air,” describes the process of painting a landscape outdoors. Artists venture into natural settings, to capture the play of light, colour, and atmosphere from nature. When I started back painting in 2020, often we would grab a couple of camping tables and sit in the backyard and paint our beautiful outlook. I forgot how much I loved being in fresh air, sun shining and being at one with nature. Last year I had planned to start running en plein air mornings in the local area. With personal illness and family matters, it went on the backburner, until now! After a few promptings from some of my classes, I realised now was the time to execute these monthly jaunts into nature. Funny, the website page had sat there for the best part of 12 months waiting for the right time. I am looking forward to the first one coming up in just a few weeks. The artwork above is from the day I went out and scouted around for some lovely scenery. Using a sketchbook, pencils and some Gouache I was able to capture the day in my sketchbook. The colours, the shadows and the feeling. It was wonderful to be there amongst the bird life, the chitter chattering and the different bugs that make ever so slight noise. Every now and the, the feet on sand of the runners would break the sounds of the bush. It is a fantastic experience and something I think is great to try. Any level of artist can enjoy a paint out in nature. You can take what is in front of you and put your spin on it, your interpretation of what you see. You don't have to have a swag of supplies, you can take minimal supplies or go all out. I have put together a comprehensive list of what you could take with you. Obviously, you can be as thrifty with your supplies as you wish. If you would like to take a look at the list and even join me you can find out more here. Do you do paint outs? What do you take as your essentials? Share below your best tips for en plein air supplies.
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![]() To easel or not to easel, is the question today. When I got back into creating, I purchased a small desktop easel to hold my small canvases. It was good enough; I didn't know if I was going to continue the creative journey when everything when back to "normal" so I went with a cheap and cheerful option which suited me at the time. Within a few months, I realised the cheap and cheerful just wasn't cutting it, so ordered in a desktop easel which was so much better with larger canvases. I soon learnt I much preferred standing to paint than sitting. A few more months later during one of the breaks in lockdown, my gorgeous hubby came home with a studio easel for me. I love it and use it every day I am in the studio. It is sturdy, holds large canvasses and is now covered in paint, I think the paint gives it character. I found as my circumstances changed and also my painting style I needed a few different easels. My larger desktop easel is still on hand for when I am sitting at my desk and creating, my studio easel is a must and I have a few portable easels I use for open studios and displays. I have also been using the portable tripod to take to my art classes. The tripod easel I have been taking to various classes is great, yet it is bulky to leave in the boot of the car. I had been eyeing off on Amazon a tripod easel with a shelf etc. (pictured). So last week I ordered it, and it arrived 2 days later. I was pleased to see it fits in a small bag and is so light and versatile. I can now use it at my art classes, along with en plein air excursions and also painting demonstrations. You don't need to be like me and have multiple easels, pick one that suits your needs, ask yourself, will I be painting on paper or canvas? Will I be creating large or small pieces? Do I need to incorporate storage? Does it need to be portable? Can I leave it up or do I need to pack it away? Do I like working on an easel or on the table? What type of medium will I be using? Once you have answered these simple questions you will have a better understanding of your easel requirements. You can check out some of my favourite tools and a couple of easels. How do you like to work? Leave a comment below. ![]() A few years ago, I did a course on using a limited palette. I found it to be a stretch initially using just a few colours and black and white. So what is a limited palette? Imagine you're baking biscuits, but you only have a few ingredients in your pantry. A limited palette in art is like that, it's when you choose to work with only a small set of colours instead of having every colour available, just like having only a few ingredients for your biscuits. So, instead of using every colour in your art supplies kit, you might pick just three or four main colours, like red, blue, yellow, and maybe white. I also like to have black or Payne's Grey. With these colours, you can mix and blend them together to create all sorts of new and exciting colours. Working with a limited palette is a fun challenge. It helps you focus on learning how colours work together and how to mix them just right to get the shades you want. Plus, it can make your artwork look really harmonious and cohesive because all the colours are related to each other, just like all the ingredients in your biscuits work together to make them taste great! One of the main reasons I love to work with a limited palette, it makes me stretch myself with blending colours to get just what I need and want for a particular piece. The photo of a work in progress in this post is using a limited palette of cobalt blue, Payne's grey, cadmium yellow and burnt sienna with white for adjusting tones. Mixing colour with a limited palette is one of my favourite ways to paint. If you are just starting out, you can start with a few colours and mix your colours without buying every tube on the shelf! So, think of a limited palette as your artistic recipe. You might not have every colour in the world, but with a little mixing and experimenting, you can create something really special! You can find some of my favourite tools here If you have favourite colours you use in a limited palette, why not share them in the comments below. ![]() I am an all or nothing type of person. When I start a new hobby or project I seem to swamp myself with he must haves and a few might grabs. I can't help myself. There are a few essential items to have in your kit if you are planning to start creating. Instead of starting on canvases there is the option to start in sketchbooks/journals or pads. Not only is it cost effective, as someone that is starting our you are more likely to experiment and have fun than worry about wasting a canvas. A few quality pencils starting with a HB and then a range from 2H to 6B is a terrific starting point and often can be purchased in packs. A kneadable eraser and a rubber eraser are also ideal to have on hand. For those wanting to explore painting a basic brush set is indispensable. Include a variety of sizes and types such as filbert, round, flat to give you different brush strokes. A couple of palette knives are also a worth while investment. You can buy packs of brushes with a few palette knives to give you a reasonable variety of tools. Choose your medium, do you want to use watercolour, acrylics or gouache? Start with a basic colour palette of your chosen paint, this will inspire your to mix your colours and experiment. You can always upgrade the quality and colour range as you become more comfortable. You don't have to spend big on palettes and cups. I use recycled food jars for my water cups and a plastic palette. I also use a perfect for me size cardboard and tape greaseproof paper to it. This is perfect for acrylic paints and for watercolour I have an old plate. One tip I do have is try and work on a whit palette so you don't change the look of the colour you are mixing by the distraction of another colour or a pattern. The photo above is of my mixing palette using the greaseproof paper. Finally, learning resources are something to tap into. I run over 80 classes a year if you live near my studio or use the internet and check out some of the great resources on Youtube. There you have it, you can get creating on a small budget and enjoy the process. I have put together, my favourite tools as a starting point, if you are not sure where to start. Do you have your favourite tools you would like to share? Leave a comment below. ![]() I love painting, I love sketching and I love spending time in my art shed. As soon as hubby heads off for golf with his buddy's, I have whipped open the door of the studio before he has even reached the end of the driveway. There is something about having no one around, no distractions, no noise, nothing for me to even think about. I open my sketchbook and lose myself in the pages. sometimes I decide to use watercolour, other times acrylics or there are times I delve into the art supplies and enjoy the freedom of mixed media. There is no rhyme or reason to what medium I choose. Sometimes, I flit between sketchbooks, Just the other day, I went from sketchbook watercolour (the photo is the end result of my sketch book watercolour) to a canvas using bold vibrant colours with impasto medium. As one part dried I worked on the other. Can you believe three hours had passed by without me even knowing it. There is something said about immersing yourself in art. For me I go to a place where worries, sadness, hurt, frustration and negative thoughts don't live. This is a place that is void of negativity and a place where time stands still. This is a place that time forgot and peace exudes. Does art give you a happy place? Does art give you a sense of peace that can reinvigorate you and send you back into the world refreshed and positive? Leave your comments below and let me know what art does for you and if you can relate, ![]() In the art classes I run, I use photographs and artwork for students as inspiration. It is easier as a student to have a reference shot to learn techniques and to develop skills. So what if you are no longer a student and now creating your own artwork, can you still use reference shots? When you stumble upon a stunning artwork or photo that speaks to you, it can spark a flood of creative ideas. It might ignite your imagination, to assist you in developing your own unique creation. You may draw on elements of the reference be it the colours, composition, theme, or mark making and reshaping them through your eye and interpretation. When coming to creating your own artwork it is about making something that is uniquely your own. In the realm of creativity, using a photo or artwork for inspiration can be powerful as a reference for your own imaginative journey. It is about interpreting, reimagining, and creating something that has your stamp of style, voice and take on the piece. Personally, one of my favourite things to paint is flowers in vases. Whilst I may look at a van Gough for inspiration, for his use of light, colour and texture, I don't want to recreate his piece, I can do that with a photocopier or camera. I do however, want to look at his work and identify some of his prowess with the brush strokes, colour, texture and light, even seeing how I can incorporate some of his elements into my piece. Although imitation is the highest form of flattery, true creativity lies not in replication but in the ability to weave inspiration into something uniquely your own. No to mention, copyright laws. ![]() I once knew a lady who spent so much time talking about how little time she had that she never actually got anything done. We all have the same mount of time in our day 1440 minutes to be precise. It is how we choose to use those minutes which makes a difference. Personally, I am a paper diary gal, I write everything in it and schedule time for particular tasks. Yes, I schedule medical appointments, classes I run, business tasks, cleaning the house and also studio or painting time. I also have non-negotiable times which often my painting or studio time falls into that category. Non-negotiable means it must be something super important for me to schedule over that time. If your hobby of art is important to you, you will schedule in time to spend pursuing it. It may be as little as 30 or 40 minutes a day. The first step is giving ourselves permission to take the time to enjoy our hobby, I don't know about you, as I was growing up the fun stuff could only be done when the work was finished. Our brains have been programmed to allow ourselves pleasurable pursuits after the work, chores and responsibilities have been completed. Guess what? They never end, they never are completed so we don't end up enjoying our hobby, art, painting, knitting or any other hobby. Think about the last time you "indulged" in your hobby or a pleasurable pursuit. How did it make you feel? Did you feel calmer, less stressed and revitalised? If like me, the answer is yes, this is the time to grab that diary, planner, phone and schedule in the time to enjoy your hobby. You are no good to anyone else or yourself if you are frazzled, stressed or feeling down. Making our art or hobby a priority is helping ourselves to a better, less stressed and more rounded life. Leave a comment below on how you prioritise your time to pursue your hobby or what you plan to do now. I would love to see your ideas. ![]() I opened my first business when I was in my late teens/early twenties. I loved it and it gave me the taste of entrepreneurship from a young age. Fast forward to today and I have navigated the corporate world for quite a few years, owned and operated several businesses, and was on the board and president of a radio station. In each of these roles and businesses, it taught me to review. Goals are great to have both personally and professionally but we need to know where we have come from, where we are now and what worked and didn't work. Toward the end of December of 2023, I sat down and wrote a list to wrap up my year. It wasn't until I started checking my diary, checking my notes and really drilling down to see what I had achieved over the last twelve months. We can get so caught up in the day to day over our business, craft or lives that we forget what we did often without thinking about it and sometimes in adversary. Putting pen to paper and really thinking through achievements, processes and highlights can be quite eye-opening. I for one, was pleasantly surprised at my achievements through 2023. Once I had a gauge on 2023, I was ready to put my plan together for 2024. Do you review and reset or do you leave it to chance? Leave your comments below. ![]() Can creativity positively effect your mental wellbeing? Well, in my humble opinion, yes it can. I have talked about this before in classes and on the socials, how returning to creativity helped me through the COVID lockdowns. For those in Melbourne, you would understand what it was like to live through the lockdowns, as one of the most lockdown cities in the world. I rediscovered art during this time and found I lent on it to relax me and take my mind off what was going on. In the art classes I run, often there are comments such as, "where did that 2 hours go?", "I got lost in the painting.", or "This is my happy place, I forget what is happening in my life." "This is my me time to relax and enjoy some quiet time." Just 40 minutes of art can help to reduce the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone in your body. There is a fabulous book, Your Brain on Art; How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross which goes into great depth. It is well worth a read. You can check out the link under my favourite tools. Art therapy is now found more in mainstream mental health services as the benefits of art and creativity on wellbeing is being highlighted more and more. I have found when I run an evening art class, I sleep better that night, participants of the night programs have also commented they have the same restful night's sleep. If I have had a particularly busy day or really have been under the pump, I take some time out for 20 minutes to half an hour to sketch or dip into some watercolour, it can have a profound effect on my mind, mood and wellbeing. Sometimes, taking a short amount of time can be all you need to shift your mood with a simple sketchbook or a simple watercolour palette, a few brushes and an art book. Have you found art has helped your wellbeing in anyway? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. ![]() Artists that find inspiration in nature have a never ending opportunity to bring the outside in. Nature has a certain way that it casts a magic spell over us. A walk in nature, you can hear the rustle of leaves, the lapping of the ocean or a sunrise or sunset filled with vibrant hues. As the urban sprawl continues and medium to high density living increases, there is less and less opportunity to experience nature regularly. Art is a way to bridge the gap between the great outdoors and the limited space indoors. Mother Nature offers endless inspiration from mountain peeks, rivers and beaches to the tiniest of petals on intricate flowers and everything in between. Art can be a conduit to the connection between nature and indoors, creating a certain ambiance melded with your own personal decorative elements. Imagine waking to a beautiful bouquet of flowers on your side table with water you never have to change, or a sunset that never sets on your wall. You can have it all with art in your home. ![]() I often wonder is it important to have your art fit into a style or a label. My work flits between expressionism and impressionism and sometimes slides into abstract. Expressionism art uses vivid colour to convey the emotional response to the subject where impressionism art captures the essence of the scene relying on the use of light. Abstract however, is non-representational and left to the interpretation of the artist and the viewer. I do enjoy abstract; however, I keep finding my way back to vibrant florals. For this reason, I call myself a mixed media artist, as I use multiple media in my work and I can't really put a style or label to it. Should we label our style or should we be able to create to our passion as opposed to a label. There are differing opinions in the art world as to the benefits or attributes of labelling an artist to a genre or movement. For me, I don't want to limit myself as I continue to experiment, play and develop my artistic skills. What is your favourite stye, genre or art movement? ![]() Acrylic paint was my way back into art and I loved it that's for sure. I signed up for some on-line art classes during lock down and was exposed to the world of mixed media. This changed everything for me and my art. Also, attending art classes where you could experiment and use different mediums opened my eyes and hands to different textures and styles. So what is mixed media I hear you ask. Mixed media is the combination of two or more art mediums into one piece of art. Some examples would be painting a watercolour picture and then adding pen or ink to the works or using acrylic paint and then adding oil pastels to the piece. Of course, you can have multiple mediums in one piece to get your desired effect. I tend to use soft oil pastels and or charcoal after I have completed the acrylic artwork. I find adding another medium gives you some amazing affects you can't necessarily achieve using the one medium. Mixed media can be used on all genres of art whether you love abstract, realism, expressionism or impressionism. Vincent van Gough before his early death had been experimenting with colour combinations and mixed media, although it hadn't been named at that stage. Mixed media for me is a new and exciting way to find expression and texture in my artwork, particularly as my art is inspired by nature and nature is full of texture and colour. ![]() Art can be a relaxing past time, a hobby, or your way of making a living. No matter what role art plays in your life, creating art teaches us to problem solve. Looking at a piece of art and seeing that it doesn't quite work or quite speak to you means stepping back and looking at what is working well, what is ok and what isn't working. When I was in a corporate role, we often as a management team would sit down and analyse the business based on what's working, what's not, what can we do to improve it. As artists we do the same. We look at our artwork in the same way as a businessperson would look at their operations. Art teaches us to observe, analyse and work through a specific problem to overcome what is not working. Do we add some texture, shape, tone, or colour? Do we make this come forward, back, paint over it, leave it. What will make this piece speak to the viewer? This process carries over into every area of our lives. These skills are transferable and valuable to our growth, increasing our capacity for thinking in new and diverse ways. We determine what we need to do to ensure a better and different outcome for a specific problem. The benefits of taking time out for creativity are endless. Keep creating! ![]() I grew up in what was once a sleepy town on the outskirts of Perth. Our house was surrounded by bushland with a peppering of houses until the development of the land started. Our primary school had a special "Australia Garden" with a man-made creek, rockpools and native flora and fauna. It was an ideal surrounding for kids who played in the bushland, built secret cubby houses and hideouts. I think this is where my love of nature truly began. The photo you see here is the bushland that still exists near my parents' house. The land has been preserved to continue the growth of wattle, wildflowers, banksia, and eucalypt trees. I now live in a beautiful part of Victoria with our house backing on to public open space which has beautiful bushland, wetlands and bird life. I don't know how I would leave this place, it is so beautiful and inspiring. I am inspired by nature in my artwork, whether it be landscape, abstract or florals. Nature is perfectly imperfect. No two flowers are the same, an aging rose is as beautiful as a newly formed bud. A walking track can take you to the most beautiful parts of a bush or the most treacherous. A flower can bring back a memory and a smile to your face. You can change someone's day by sharing some nature with them, even if it is a small, handpicked posy from your garden. You can even have nature in your home every single day of the year with a piece of artwork inspired by nature. ![]() You may recall previously I have written a post as to why I enter art shows. You can read about it here A few months ago I entered an art show which had a theme and some criteria. I had agonised over whether to enter the competition as it was out of my genre and not the usual type of show I would enter, I decided in the end to enter it as it would stretch me to think about the theme and my artwork. I never gave it much thought after I hit the send button, in fact if I be upfront, I had forgotten about the entry, that is until I opened an email from the organisers on the weekend. As I opened the email and scanned for the words "accepted" I quickly saw "unsuccessful". Normally I would think, well, that is the decision and at least I gave it a go. I continued to scroll down the page, and I came to a list of why my artwork wasn't accepted, to say the least it was brutal. I read, reread, and read it repeatedly letting the words sink in. For the entire weekend, the words continued to cross my mind as I digested what was said. After a while, all the self-doubt crept in and I started to question myself, am I a fraud, am I supposed to be an artist, what was I thinking, and imposter syndrome settled into a nice comfortable spot in the front of my mind. So often we let other people's opinions and points of view take away our joy and our confidence. Joy and confidence vampires lurk in unsuspecting areas of our lives. This was a valuable lesson for me to learn. My art doesn't hurt anyone, it brings me joy and obviously brings others joy as I sell my work. The lesson really came home to roost when I opened up a social media post and saw the finalists for the exhibition I had entered. My artwork was nothing at all like the finalists work, they weren't looking for my type of artwork, in fact more likely completely opposite. The list of brutal feedback in the email was based on what they were looking for, what they had in mind and was not about my artwork nor me. The moral of the story for me is continue to do what gives you joy and let others have their opinions, it's none of my business what they think. Go create in joy. |
AuthorLee Cummins is a mixed media artist, workshop and art class facilitator. Archives
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