28 July 2015

Plein Air Pastel Of Big Rideau Lake

Home » Plein Air Pastel Of Big Rideau Lake

I’m home from my wonderful trip to Ontario where Cam and I visited various family members. Kicking myself for not taking more photos! However, I did have time to do one pastel en plein air 🙂 It’s one that I did of a beautiful view of Big Rideau Lake from Cam’s Mum’s porch. The weather was changeable, rotating from heavy cloud and grey skies to blue sky with white clouds. Ahhhh the unpredictable delights of painting on location!

The Plein Air Progress

Here’s the view through the screen. (Yes, I was cheating a bit sitting inside a screened porch but I still consider it a plein air piece!)

The view I painted en plein air — The view I painted. Lots of blues and greens!

1. The Thumbnail prior to pastelling en plein air — 1. The Thumbnail. I was especially attracted to the darkly encircled view of the brightly lit trees in the middle ground.

2. The charcoal drawing on Wallis paper in prep for the plein air painting — 2. The charcoal drawing on Wallis paper

3. The first layers on - light, middle and dark values as seen en plein air — 3. The first layers on – light, middle and dark values. You can see that I’m ‘reading’ the middle ground trees and the water as the same value.

4. Adding more pastel in the plein air piece — 4. Adding more pastel. You can see the water and middle ground trees emerging as different shapes now.

5. The above in black and white. You can see that I need to darken the left side quite a bit to evoke the same feeling captured in the thumbnail!

6. Beginning to define the shapes of trees and negative space of the lake in this plein air pastel — 6. Beginning to define the shapes of trees and negative space of the lake

7. Almost there. Greens added to the foreground trees. The gray clouds disappeared and were replaced by white ones and I could even see blue sky so those went in. And the various tree trunks of the middle ground trees finally added. — 7. Almost there. Greens added to the foreground trees. The gray clouds disappeared and were replaced by white ones and I could even see blue sky so that went in too. The various tree trunks of the middle ground trees were finally added.

8. Let's have a look at the plein air pastel as it stands in black and white. A much closer feeling of looking at the light from the darkness. Just a few more tweaks.. — 8. Let’s have a look at the pastel as it stands in black and white. A much closer feeling of looking at the light from the darkness. Just a few more tweaks..

10. Here are the Sennelier pastels I used for this plein air pastel. The sticks to the left of the charcoal were tried but hardly used. I introduced another green into the small starter set I use. I just couldn't resist that dark olive green. I'll need to replace that blue that's in three small pieces - that's all I have left of that colour! — 10. Here are the Sennelier pastels I used. The sticks to the left of the charcoal were tried but hardly used. I introduced another green into the small starter set I use. I just couldn’t resist that dark olive green. Hmmmm, I’ll need to remember to replace that blue that’s in three small pieces – that’s all I have left of that particular colour!

I was so happy to have done any work en plein air while away. It would have been nice to have done more but since the main reason for our trip was family visiting, I put all my focus and energy into doing just that! And I’m ever so glad as I had an amazing time first with my sister and her partner, then with Cam’s family (I have now met them all!), and finally with my cousin Alex and her partner. All very special times.

Look forward to hearing from you. Please leave a comment and tell me what you think of my newest plein air work.

~ Gail

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10 thoughts on “Plein Air Pastel Of Big Rideau Lake”

rita
Tuesday, 28 July 2015 at 2:21 pm

Very nice landscape Gail! Thanks for posting your shots of the progress, really interesting! Makes me want to do more landscapes!

Reply
1. Gail
  Tuesday, 28 July 2015 at 4:16 pm
  
  Thanks Rita. Yes, do more landscapes – they are always a treat to see!!
  
  Reply
Carol Berning
Tuesday, 28 July 2015 at 4:14 pm

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Reply
1. Gail
  Tuesday, 28 July 2015 at 4:17 pm
  
  Awww Carol, you are so sweet!
  
  Reply
Sandy
Wednesday, 29 July 2015 at 1:01 pm

Well done. Such a beautiful scene – looks like a great place to be in their present hot spell. Keep up the good work. S

Reply
1. Gail
  Tuesday, 4 August 2015 at 4:06 pm
  
  Thanks Sandy. It was certainly a perfect place to be in the heat – shaded and cooled by the water.
  
  Reply
jane cali
Tuesday, 6 October 2015 at 4:16 am

Very awesome landscape and your so kind to share all your knowledge and how to do it.
Thanks so much . Jane.

Reply
1. Gail Sibley
  Tuesday, 6 October 2015 at 9:32 pm
  
  Jane, you are so welcome! Thanks so much for commenting 🙂
  
  Reply
Patricia Keilthy
Saturday, 18 March 2017 at 8:58 am

Wow! I love it. It’s so hard to create a ‘green’ scene without it looking prosaic and
‘ Too Green!’ Any advice on setting up to pastel paint en plain air? How do you know what colours to bring? Do you bring a table and an easel? Rain?? (I’m from Ireland so a constant threat!)
Any advice would be much appreciated. I love your work, I’m soooo impressed with your DK project, well done and well deserved.
All the very best.
Patricia

Reply
1. Gail Sibley
  Saturday, 18 March 2017 at 12:04 pm
  
  Patricia thanks so much for your enthusiastic comment about this pastel and for my DK opportunity!
  Okay, to your questions about plein air. I take a very small set of pastels on site and make do with what I have. I often use a set of 40 half sticks by Sennelier. I have still to make up my own set…never seem to find the time. The main answer is that I like to pack light whether it’s at home or travelling. When I paint locally, I use a half french easel. There are a lot of small easels available. Rain? I don’t paint in the rain! I’m basically a fair weather on location painter!!
  Have you considered purchasing my plein air online course? Here’s the link to find out more: https://www.howtopastel.com/plein-air-pastel-online/
  Best to you!
  
  Reply

Gail Sibley

Artist. Blogger. Teacher.

My love of pastel and the enjoyment I receive from teaching about pastel inspired the creation of this blog. It has tips, reviews, some opinions:), and all manner of information regarding their use through the years – old and new. Please enjoy!