Comments on: Lorenzo Chavez – Plein Air Painter of The American West

By: Lorenzo Chavez

Lorenzo Chavez — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 21:23:10 +0000

In reply to Lorenzo Chavez. Thank you so much Mark. It has been a big pleasure to get to know you and paint with you at my Arts Students League classes. Lorenzo Chavez

By: Lorenzo Chavez

Lorenzo Chavez — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 22:46:32 +0000

In reply to Dina Gardner. Thank you so much Dina.

By: Lorenzo Chavez

Lorenzo Chavez — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 22:45:40 +0000

In reply to Cynthia Riordan. Ah, Thank you so much Cynthia. Great painting with you recently! Lorenzo

By: Lorenzo Chavez

Lorenzo Chavez — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 22:44:16 +0000

In reply to Marlene McNew. Hi Marlene, Thank you and great question. It is important to always strive to bring the least amount of gear as possible. I find that any light weight paint gear is so useful for the plein air painter. I recommend the Julian French Easel half box and a small box of pastels. I use Noton studies in black and white to design high contrast scenes into a simple strong graphic look. If the conditions are not strong light and shadows, I design the landscape using the four value plane principle taught by John F Carlson in his classic book Landscape Painting. You can see my supply list under workshops. I hope this helps. Lorenzo Chavez

By: Lorenzo Chavez

Lorenzo Chavez — Sun, 07 Nov 2021 22:36:28 +0000

Hi everyone,
Thank you all for your kind words. I do love the landscape where I have lived all my life and feel very grateful to call this area of the Rockies and southwest my home. It is so important to our creative efforts to love the subject we choose to paint. I love working out on location from small to up to 20″ x 24″ anything larger is usually done in the studio working from field sketches and photos and lots of accumulated memories of being out in nature painting in all kinds of light, seasons and weather conditions.
I use a Julian French easel both full size and half size. My pastel box carries about 150 colors. I have arranged them in primary and secondary colors and divided them into 3 value ranges from dark mid values and light values. With these colors and values I can mix on the paper surfaces additional colors and values that help extent my palette.
I do not work in rain, I use my oil painting gear during wet times.
Wind can pose a problem so I find shelter behind solid objects like rocks, big trees, buildings or my car. they all can make effective wind breaks.
When it’s very windy I will work at a smaller scale.
I love Canson Mi-Teintes “Moonstone” and can get lots of interesting textures by scraping down pastel with a palette knife or spraying some Krylon Workable Fixative to the pastels on the paper surface.
I use a lot of suggestion in my pastel work that can feel like there is more finish but is only hinted at.
Light can change quickly so I try to pay attention to my surroundings and look to the sky for clues to how much time I might have.

Painting in the field can be a challenge but that’s what brings so much energy and inspiration to the creative process.

Thank you all for your questions I hope I answered most of them. I hope to see you at one of my landscape painting workshops soon.
Happy painting!
Lorenzo Chavez

By: Gail Sibley

Gail Sibley — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 18:08:08 +0000

In reply to Sandy Gordon. Great to hear Sandy! I don't have the answer to your question but I can say that with plein air work, there comes a time when the light has changed so much that it would be useless to continue painting the same scene!

By: Sandy Gordon

Sandy Gordon — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 18:04:38 +0000

Hi Gail, Really enjoyed your blog on Lorenzo Chavez. His work is new to me and it appears to be very demanding in detail work. Does he have to spend a lot of time on the site?

By: Lorenzo Chavez

Lorenzo Chavez — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 16:01:28 +0000

Thank you all so much for your nice comments. I would love to answer all your questions individually and I sure appreciate you taking time to ask and comment. I am sending Gail my answers to your questions and I hope they will be posted for all to see. I am getting ready to leave to teach a workshop in the beautiful San Juan Mountains in Colorado.
Wishing you all much inspiration and love!
Lorenzo Chavez

By: Gail Sibley

Gail Sibley — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 19:55:16 +0000

In reply to Gareth Jones. Thanks Gareth! And thank you for pointing out that great parallel that Lorenzo makes between his medium and his subject. And as you say, so different from your work of the sea. Nevertheless, both you and Lorenzo fill the viewer with the place you love. And for readers wanting to check out Gareth's guest post, click HERE

By: Gail Sibley

Gail Sibley — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 19:51:44 +0000

In reply to Marlene McNew. Hi Marlene, thanks for your observations and your questions. I will leave them for Lorenzo to respond to