Tag Archives: Oil Painting

Bass Lake – an amazing place for Plein Air

Another incredible day at Bass Lake.  It was actually chilly in the shade.  It’s an amazing place for Plein Air painting.  There are so many possible scenes and lightings.  And lots of pleasant people to interact with if you’re so inclined.  My husband and I have been in Boone/Blowing Rock area a great deal this summer —- so I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to do lots of plein air in a beautiful location.  One of the quandaries I’ve discovered recently is lighting.  When I position myself in the shade because of comfort, I have a very hard time really seeing my painting.  I’m looking out at a sunlight scene and I guess my eyes just can’t adjust quickly enough.  Sometimes I feel that I’m painting in the dark.  Often I’ll take my painting back in to the sun and do more adjustments.

I’ve also started taking my decent camera with me.  I’ve realized I sometimes need a better reference when I want to rework a painting back in the studio.  The iPhone shots just aren’t that good. Altho once again I’m amazed at how many colors I see in real life as compared to photographs.  Painting from life – regardless of the subject — is so helpful.

So while I was painting, my husband was fishing.  Caught a huge bass out of the lily pads in the lake.  Actually caught several.  Life is good!

Bass Lake, Plein Air, Oil Painting, Landscapes

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Marketing vs Painting —- Trying to strike a Balance

The constant dilemma of an artist — trying to balance marketing and actual painting.  It’s hard to strike a balance.  All I really want to do is paint, but I realize that I have to market — otherwise I’ll be on the streets with a ton of plein air paintings in my lap.  The two paintings here are of the same location.  The one below is painted in early Spring — before the leaves were back on the trees.  You can see I took some editorial license and eliminated some trees.  Just learning that that’s part of my job.  I don’t “have” to paint everything that I see.  I can rearrange things or take them out entirely.  New concept since I’ve spent so many years just trying to recreate what’s in front of me in a pleasing fashion.

One of the wonderful things about painting.  Always something to learn — you never stop!

Boone Nc, Blowing Rock, Plein air painting on Shulls Mill RoadBoone, Blowing Rock, NC mountains, Plein Air

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Painting People from Life

This is Pamela — an amazing artist friend who I paint with —and recently modeled for us.  We have a wonderful small group of women artists.  We paint from life together, critique each others work and mainly support each other in this crazy life as an artist.  I painted her one morning — about 2 hours — from life.  Came back to my studio and completely wiped it out.  While some of the brushwork was nice — it didn’t look a thing like her.  So I worked from photos.  I know that’s a faux pas for some artists.  I’m an desperately trying to make the transition, but I’m still struggling and sometimes I resort to photos to help me along.  Pamela 4-16x20 Oil Linen

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Garden Shed

This is a close up of the painting that I did the other day of the Community Garden in one of our local parks.  It’s a beautiful little hidden gem.  In fact I had no idea it was there — I was just prowling around trying to find something interesting to paint.  That was also the morning I didn’t even bring a canvas to paint on!!  But as you see I came back.  If you ever visit Plaza Midwood Park in Charlotte, NC make sure you check out this wonderful spot.Garden Shed PM-8x10-oil-linen

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Waterfalls

This is a scene I’ve painted before.  It’s a favorite place of ours in Boone, NC.  The rocks and all the action are daunting for me.  So as usual I started trying to render them with a brush.  Finally in frustration I picked up a palette knife.  I’m loving the palette knife.  I have to be looser with it and that’s the direction I really want to go.  This painting is available on Dailypaintworks.com if you’re interested. http://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/robin-wellner/boone-waterfall/233176

Boone-waterfall-8x10

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Emote your paintings- Ha!

Knifed FloralI did this painting in a mad frenzy.  I was furious at the world this morning and went at the canvas with a vengeance —actually it was board not canvas.  Thank God because I probably would have torn a canvas.  I was totally out of my head — and it helped me clear all the garbage out of my system.

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Painting the Community Garden — and tips for organizing for Plein Aire

Headed out to paint this morning — got all set up and realized I had forgotten to bring a canvas to paint on!  UGH!  Had to go home and start all over again.  Realized I need a checklist like a pilot before I take off!!!  Also need to read up on how to format this posts so I can put the photo where I want!!!Painting Community Garden

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