Back from Plein Air Easton!

I’m back from the Plein Air Easton competition! I had a wonderful time, and I learned a ton. I was really impressed with the bravura artwork produced by my fellow artists. Some of them produced work that looked like it had been in the studio for weeks. I was also impressed by the organizers of the event, who ran it professionally and cordially. And I was happy that one of my paintings sold for a nice price, and I met a few patrons who seem interested in supporting my work.

Alas, I fell and injured my knee halfway through the competition, at which point I had really only finished a couple paintings. I found it hard to paint at all after that. (The knee is better but still bothering me enough that today I went in for an ultrasound exam.) I also made a thousand other less frightening mistakes: I forgot my wet-panel carriers; I didn’t bring enough frames or framing supplies; I overloaded my car with unnecessary extra supplies; I wasted too much time scouting for painting sites; I tried to paint too big at an event with a time deadline because I didn’t have a smaller frame.

The good news is that I’m now feeling comfortable plein-air painting again, at least in uncrowded locations. (I am fully vaccinated.) So I should be posting in this blog a bit more often now.

Here’s one painting I did at Easton that I considered mostly finished. Even this one could have used more touch-up, but with my aching knee, I just framed it and declared victory.

Geoff Watson, “Oxford Mooring,” oil on linen panel, 6” x 8,” at Plein Air Easton, 2021.

May Azaleas

These azaleas are fading already, so I rushed outside to paint them while I still can. I’d like to try working them into a larger composition if they’re still blooming after tomorrow’s rain.

Geoff Watson, “May Azaleas,” oil on linen panel, 12” x 16.”

The color purple

After a week of rain, the sun finally came out today, and I wasted no time getting outside. I painted these azaleas and dogwoods while standing on my front lawn.

Geoff Watson, “The color purple,” oil on linen panel, 12” x 16.”

The side gate (Day 4)

It was a lovely afternoon, so I hauled my gear out to the side of my house to continue work on my side gate. It’s getting close to completion, but I’d still like to spruce up the foreground bush and maybe tweak the background a bit. I’m glad I put in the flowers last week, because they’re fading now.

Geoff Watson, “The side gate,” oil on linen panel, 12” x 16,” 2020.

Sketch of 7th Avenue

Today I studied a plein air painting I did in New York last summer and thought about ways to improve it. I did about a dozen Notan ink sketches (black and white values only, in a sketchbook), and finally settled on a backlit variation.

Then I spent about an hour quickly sketching my idea with oil paint. I used a limited palette of four colors plus white, following a suggestion of Terry Miura: (1) yellow ochre; (2) transparent red oxide; (3) a little black; (4) asphaltum; and (5) titanium white.

It's obviously just a sketch, but I'm liking the composition! I may try to develop this into a larger studio piece. I'd add more cars, people, details, and clarify the drawing -- but, I hope, maintain the lighting and feel.

Geoff Watson, study, “Sketch of 7th Avenue at 57th Street,” oil on linen panel, 8” x 10.”

The side gate (day 3)

It was sunny and downright hot today, with temperatures in the 70s, so I was back outside, painting my gate. This time I focused on the right side of the picture, including the ivy and the tall rose bush, and I made some first efforts at a background.

I'm not happy with the background yet. I tried adding more trees, but they interfered with the U-shaped junction between the gate and the ivy, which I really like. I also need to work on the foreground, especially the foreground bush. Still, I like the direction this is going.

Geoff Watson, “The side gate (in progress, day3),” oil on linen panel, 12” x 16.”

The side gate (cont'd)

Two beautiful days in a row! So I was in my side-yard again this afternoon, soaking up the sun and having a wonderful time painting this gate. I’m excited about it! Today I focused on the steps, railings and walkway. I didn’t touch the background or the right half of the picture. I’ll get to those later this week. Unfortunately, it looks like clouds and rain for the next couple days, but no worries; the gate isn’t going anywhere.

Geoff Watson, “The side gate (in progress, day 2),” oil on linen panel, 12” x 16.”

The side gate (in progress)

I had a fun afternoon painting under beautiful sunny skies. I chose to paint the gate by the side of my house. I think it’s a good start. The gate itself is quaint, and the flowers on the right add color and interest. I plan to spend at least another day on it, and probably more. I need to add railings to the stairs and lots of other detail. We’ll see how it goes.

Geoff Watson, “The side gate (in progress),” oil on linen panel, 12” x 16.”

Hiding behind the trees

The pandemic is upon us, and plein air painting has to bend to the needs of the day. In my case, this means painting a lot of things while standing on my driveway or front lawn, where no onlookers come peek over my shoulder. Fortunately, our cherry blossoms are about to bloom, so I should have some good subject matter. In fact, my little cherry tree is already blooming. I may paint it tomorrow.

For the last couple days, though I focused on our neighbor’s house, which is shrouded in trees. Our neighbors are wonderful social people, but the building itself seems to be hiding behind the foliage, as if distancing itself from the virus.

Geoff Watson, “Hiding behind the trees,” oil on linen panel, 12” x 16.”

Dude in a big hat

I’ve been painting every day, but I’ve been a bit remiss about updating this blog. I’ll try to catch up over the next week or so. I did this sketch in life class. I was going for a Rembrandt feel, which is great except (1) I didn’t use a dark background, and (2) I’m no Rembrandt, lol. Still, I love it when I get to paint with a lot of red!

Geoff Watson, “Study of a dude in a big hat,” oil on linen panel, 9” x 12.”

Shuttered pharmacy

It was unseasonably warm today, so I got outdoors for my first plein air of the year. This picture features my local pharmacy, the Westbard Rite-Aid, which recently closed. The painting is one in my series of “doomed buildings of Bethesda.” I chose to use just one color, transparent red oxide, plus titanium white.

Geoff Watson, “Westbard Rite-Aid, shuttered,” oil on linen panel, 6” x 12.” Available.

Quick study of Chris

I did this quick study in about 90 minutes in life class yesterday. The instructor asked us to experiment with a loose start, massing in shapes without any explicit drawing. I was surprised how well this method worked; I got a pretty good likeness pretty fast. It’s not as finished as I would like, but it was a good foundation.

Geoff Watson, ‘Quick study of Chris,” oil on linen panel, 11” x 14,” 2020.

Recent sketches

Here are a few more of my recent sketches. I did this first one a couple days ago, in about half an hour, using a pen. I like using a pen because you can’t erase your mistakes, which makes me concentrate harder. As the saying goes, measure twice, draw once.

Geoff Watson, “Sketch of a living room,” pen on paper, 11” x 14,” 2020.

This next one I did a couple weeks ago, from life, at the Art Students League in New York. It was the last open-sketching session of the year, I think.

Geoff Watson, “Study of a nude,” ink on paper, about 6” x 8,” 2019.

And here’s a sketch from a couple weeks ago. About 10 or 15 minutes, from life. Nothing spectacular, but I like the diagonal construction lines that I inexplicably included.

Geoff Watson, “Sketch with construction lines,” ink on paper, about 6” x 8,” 2020.

And lastly, a sketch in oil paint, from today’s life class. Our instructor urged us to mass in shapes and worry less about contour lines and other niceties of precise drawing. My results were somewhat mixed, especially as I never got around to putting in the ear, but it was a good experiment. About 90 minutes.

Geoff Watson, “Unfinished sketch of Moe,” oil on linen panel, 11” x 14,” 2020.

Underpainting in progress

My New Year’s resolution was to spend more time on each painting — to make some really finished pieces. This is one of the few New Year’s resolutions I’ve ever kept, at least so far. I’ve spent several days on this “brunaille” — an underpainting made in just two colors, brown and white.

I imagine it will take even longer to glaze it (i.e., paint on top of it) with color. I’m not sure, because I normally don’t do underpaintings; this is an experiment. I think it’s a good start!

Geoff Watson, “Brunaille for a portrait,” oil on linen panel, 16” x 20,” 2020.

Profile study

I had my final life class of the semester today, so I tried to make the most of it. This little profile study took about 3-4 hours.

Geoff Watson, “Profile study,” oil on linen panel, 11” x 14,” 2019.

Moe

I did this study of Moe in life class today. It took about two hours. I like it!

Geoff Watson, “Moe (portrait study),” oil on linen panel, 11” x 14,” 2019.

Sheba - Day 2

This was the second session of a two-session pose. I didn’t make as much progress as I’d hoped; there were a lot of distractions in the classroom today. But it’s still a decent likeness.

Geoff Watson, “Sheba,” oil on linen panel, 11” x 14,” 2019.

Sheba - Day 1

I started this painting in life class today; it was the first session of a two-session pose. Pretty good likeness already, but I need to refine everything, and I’ve hardly done any work on her torso. Still, a good start.

Geoff Watson, “Sheba (Day 1),” unfinished, oil on linen panel, 11” x 14,” 2019.

Drunken sailor

I attended an "open studio" life-drawing and life-painting session tonight. No instructor; just a monitor. We did an hour's worth of short poses, then a two-hour long pose. I had a lot of fun with this one.

Geoff Watson, “Drunken sailor,” oil on linen panel, 11” x 14,” 2019.

Fenway Park

I finished this commissioned piece a few days ago, and I’m mostly happy with it. I was going for a serene, happy vibe, because the Red Sox are my favorite team. :) I wonder if I could have imparted more mystery, maybe by softening more edges or making some elements more abstract. But all in all, I like this one.

Geoff Watson, “Fenway Park,” oil on linen, 8” x 10,” 2019.