1 June 2016

Garden Corner – An En Plein Air Progression

Home » Garden Corner – An En Plein Air Progression

There’s so much in a garden to paint – long views and closeups, flowers and garden accoutrements, seasonal changes or a single season, a garden corner or an entire garden – all make for great subject matter!

I’m in Ontario to teach at the ICAN Pastel Conference in Aurora during the week. Happily the plan is to spend both weekends with my sister and her family. Last weekend at her place, I found some quiet time to pastel en plein air. It’s been awhile since I’ve painted on location – Mexico in February was the last time – so this was such a pleasure. Hot weather standing in the shade painting. What could be nicer?

Check out the progression below!

Garden Coner: 1. My first thumbnail - seeing if I like the subject enough to paint it. — 1. My first thumbnail – seeing if I like the subject enough to paint it.

Garden corner: 2. Once I decided the subject was a go, I made another small one that broke down the scene into light and dark. Very sketchy!! — 2. Once I decided the subject was a go, I made another small one that broke down the scene into light and dark. Very sketchy!! Really more of a two-value sketch than a three-value one. About 1 x 2 in

Garden Corner: 3. Vine charcoal sketch on Wallis paper (white) — 3. Vine charcoal sketch on Wallis paper (white). Not much there!

Garden Corner: 4. The first layer on - three values. There was so much green to be painted that I decided I needed to put some warm colours underneath - red, ochre/orange, yellow — 4. The first layer on – three values. There was so much green in the scene to be painted that I decided I needed to put some warm colours underneath it all – red, ochre/orange, yellow

Garden Corner: 5. The first layer wiped with paper towel to create an underpainting — 5. The first layer wiped with paper towel to create an underpainting

Garden Corner: 6. Reasserting the values with the same three colours. Wiping the paper to create the underpainting always lightens these value areas. — 6. Reasserting the values with the same three colours.

Garden corner: 7. Beginning to add a second layer — 7. Beginning to add a second layer in the dark value areas

Garden Corner: 7a. The image above in black and white. Checking value pattern against the thumbnail. Looks fine and dandy. — 7a. The image above shown in black and white. Checking the value pattern against the thumbnail. Looks fine and dandy.

Garden Corner: 8. Building up layers. I saw a shovel off in another corner and decided to bring it into the scene. I felt it would add more balance and interest. — 8. Building up layers. I saw a shovel off in another corner and decided to bring it into the scene. I felt it would add more balance and interest. Starting to introduce a dark green.

Garden corner: 9. The scene is now the dark shadowy area I see and the garden tools are now revealed. It's time to step back and ponder what's next. — 9. The painting is now the dark shadowy area I see and the garden tools are now revealed. It’s time to step back and ponder what’s next. (This photo and the next are darker than the image is. They were taken in the heavy shade of a tree.)

Garden corner: 10. I decided that the light area behind the irises was competing with them and really, it was the irises that drew me to painting this scene. So in order to show them off, I chose to darken the background behind them. — 10. I decided that the light area behind the irises was competing with them and really, it was the irises that drew me to painting this scene. So in order to show them off, I chose to darken the background behind them.

Garden corner: 10a. Looking at the image in black and white , I think it's working quite well. — 10a. Looking at the image in black and white , I think it’s working quite well. At this point I stopped working on location.

Garden corner: And here are the 12 pastels I used chosen from my box of 20 (a very limited palette to choose from!). — And here are the 12 pastels I used, chosen from my box of 20 (a very limited palette to choose from!).

It’s funny, I was attracted to this scene because of the irises yet, semi-unconciously I think, I was also drawn to the design and character of the garden tools and they ended up taking a prominent position in this painting. It just shows how things can shift. It’s important to know what attracted you to a scene; it helps you see if your painting is successful. And yet there can be some flexibility in your idea. Ultimately this painting is about a garden corner and what being a gardener is all about.

Was this helpful? Do you like painting scenes from a garden corner? Do let me know. I LOVE to hear from you!!!

Until next time,

~ Gail

PS. Speaking of the pastel conference, I taught a wonderful first workshop which was all about using a limited palette (no kidding!). Participants seems to have fun AND learn something. That’s the biggest reward a teacher can have! I’ll post photos over on Facebook.

PPS. My nephew Andrew, cat Jack and dog Violet kept me company 🙂

Garden corner: It's a hard life — It’s a hard life

Grief and art: Gail Sibley, "Farewell (for Ray)," Great American and Mount Vision pastels on Canson Mi-Teintes Touch (white), 14 x 20 3/4 in

Grief And Art – Using Art-Making To Deal With My Sadness And Anger

Creating Art Is Hard Work!!

Backyard plein air painting: Gail Sibley, "Backyard Hollyhock," mostly Unison pastels on UART 400 grade paper, 12 x 9 in.

Backyard Plein Air Painting – Hollyhocks

Colour Schemes: Gail Sibley, "Bowser View," Unison pastels on UART 400 grade paper, 12 x 9 in. Available.

Colour Schemes And How I Don’t Use Them

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14 thoughts on “Garden Corner – An En Plein Air Progression”

Gailen Lovett
Wednesday, 1 June 2016 at 10:35 am

Hi Gail,
Happy to hear that you finally had some time to get outside and paint. Your joy in the experience shows in the work! Love all the color but I’m kinda stuck on the charcoal sketch – interesting bones indeed. Looking forward to your next adventure.
Gailen

Reply
1. Gail Sibley
  Wednesday, 1 June 2016 at 3:55 pm
  
  Hi Gailen,
  Thanks as always for your kind comment.
  It is wonderful to get painting again outside although I feel a bit rusty. The wheels will move more smoothly as I begin to do more.
  Can you tell me more about what you mean when you say you are “kinda stuck on the charcoal sketch”?
  
  Reply
  1. Gailen Lovett
    Wednesday, 1 June 2016 at 5:53 pm
    
    It reminds me of the drawings of Judith Foosaner. I like the rhythm in your marks
    
    Reply
    1. Gail Sibley
      Wednesday, 1 June 2016 at 7:31 pm
      
      Wow – thanks for the comparison! I was unaware of this artist. Thank you for the introduction!! http://judithfoosaner.com/artwork/drawings/
David
Wednesday, 1 June 2016 at 12:49 pm

It’s always nice to see finished work.
And a treat to see how the work developed.
Plus, thanks for showing the reference photo.

Thanks Gail.

Reply
1. Gail Sibley
  Wednesday, 1 June 2016 at 3:58 pm
  
  Thanks David! When I’m in the work, I have no idea where it will end up. So for me too, it’s interesting to see the progression, to see the paths I took.
  
  Reply
Jane Cali
Friday, 3 June 2016 at 4:37 am

Hi Gail, thanks for sharing this awesome picture and telling in detail how to paint it and very awesome with so little colors. When I’ve a bit of time I’ll have a go at it. Very awesome dog and cat on the photo, I’m a real animal lover I have a German Shepherd 5 years old. I love your articles about painting.

Reply
1. Gail Sibley
  Wednesday, 8 June 2016 at 11:03 pm
  
  Jane, so glad you enjoyed the painting and the process of getting to the end.
  Violet the dog and Jack the cat are delightful (as is my nephew :-))! It was interesting to have their company as I painted as for me,painting en plein air is usually a solitary occupation.
  
  Reply
Sandi
Friday, 3 June 2016 at 7:22 pm

Hi Gail
Loved watching the progression of this Plen aire garden painting. It’s so nice to get outside to paint now.
I really love all of your demos. This Plen aire really shows that it’s the lovely little garden corners that one really needs to look carefully at and there is a painting there somewhere. Tomorrow I’m going to find an area in my garden to paint! My irises are blooming too!

Reply
1. Gail Sibley
  Wednesday, 8 June 2016 at 11:06 pm
  
  Sandi, happy you enjoyed seeing the progression of the painting. It’s always interesting to me to look back on it as when I am in it, I have no idea of the outcome! Did you find a garden corner to paint?
  It was lovely to enjoy irises again as the ones I have at home in Victoria bloomed ages ago!
  
  Reply
Heather Laws
Thursday, 9 June 2016 at 5:05 am

Hi Gail,

At first glance I never would have guessed you had used only 12 pastels. Now, after taking in your workshops this past week I have a new understanding of the whole process. You have taken such an ordinary corner and made it so vibrant. For myself, I would have been drawn to paint the lounging trio.

Thanks again for for sharing your wisdom during the ICAN conference.

PS. I did sign up for a WordPress blog yesterday, but I have a long way to go yet. Wishing you were perched on my shoulder during the process.

Reply
1. Gail Sibley
  Monday, 13 June 2016 at 2:19 pm
  
  Hi Heather, So lovely to meet you at the ICAN conference. I’m glad now that you can imagine and see the process using a limited number of pastels. I too loved the lounging trio. Needless to say, they didn’t stay put very long!
  
  Good for you signing up for a WordPress blog. Plug away and it will happen!!
  
  Reply
Cliff Riviere
Monday, 13 June 2016 at 3:50 pm

Good solution to the Green challenge in pastel landscape painting. I should try this approach in my garden Plein-Air painting. Keep up the good work.

Cliff

Reply
1. Gail Sibley
  Monday, 13 June 2016 at 3:51 pm
  
  Thanks Cliff. Let me know how it goes!
  How lovely to meet you in my limited palette workshop at the ICAN conference 🙂
  Gail
  
  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!