Dans Papers - May 25, 2007 - Let Nature Be Your Inspiration

Spring brings promise of new life and new beginnings as bright green buds and leaves transform the trees, pink magnolia petals sweep across the air and yellow and purple pansies tickle the garden. Now that you've created a mental picture, why not develop this idea into a painting? Think of this article as a brief guide to unlocking the beauty of spring through your newly found talent and expression.

Below is basic information regarding supplies and how to get started on your painting journey. Landscape painting is a very detailed, challenging and sophisticated process and the more you attempt it, the more comfortable you'll be. You can purchase the needed materials at a local art store or online. It's very important to be well prepared and moderately organized when it comes to transporting the supplies to the outdoors. A paint bin or tackle box serves as an excellent storage container, helping to arrange your materials and make them easily accessible. An outdoor easel provides support for the canvas. Easels can range from $40.00 to $150.00. The beauty of these easels is that they're portable and collapsible, enabling you to venture outside and pick a spot to set up. Don't forget a portable folding table and chair, as they will help you relax and balance your palette and paint box.

Typically, landscapes are painted in oil, acrylic or watercolor paints. Since this may be a new experience for you, I suggest starting with acrylic, permanent and plastic-based paint. It dries quickly and provides vibrant colors that allow for mixing.

Canvas comes pre-stretched on a wooden frame, on a flat board or in paper form. If you're ambitious, you can stretch your own canvas. Buy two canvases of the same size - one to use for exploration and one for your landscape painting. Manageable sizes range from 8" x 10" to 12" x 16." Your best buy will be an acrylic paint and brush set. To avoid the overwhelming process of purchasing specific colors and brushes, it's already available for you! Just be sure to pick up one paintbrush that's 1" wide for larger surface areas. Pencil, sharpener and a kneaded eraser can be helpful if you prefer to draw and map out your landscape before painting. If you decide, however, to jump right into it, simply start laying your foundation with paint. In addition, you'll need a water container, rag or paper towels and disposable palette paper to complete the set up.

Now that you have your material and advice, which can be a process in itself, let's delve into the creative aspect. Scout out areas that interest you whether it is the beach, woods, farm, vineyard or your own backyard. Once you find an area you'd like to invest much time and effort into, it's time to plan your composition. The 19th century French Impressionist painter, Claude Monet, eloquently expressed his love for the outdoors and how it informed his artwork. "For me, a landscape does not exist in its own right, since its appearance changes at every moment; but the surrounding atmosphere brings it to life - the light and the air which vary continually. For me, it is only the surrounding atmosphere which gives subjects their true value."

Painting outdoors is a truly wonderful yet challenging undertaking. In a way, this provides some comfort, because painting from observation in nature doesn't need to be exactly perfect - an expectation many have when it comes to art. Instead, it can be an exercise in really looking at your surroundings and recording what you see.

Don't overwhelm yourself with a large area. Instead, pick an isolated scene that you can translate into a painting. Observe your surroundings and the overall mood and feeling of the outdoors.

It's helpful to plot out general forms, shapes and, of course, your horizon line. You can do this by directly drawing on your canvas or creating a light wash of a wet brush with a slight hint of a color (yellow, for example) as an under-painting.

Start by painting larger shapes of color and then go into the details later. Acrylic paint is fluid and layers nicely. In case you need to paint an area over, wipe it off with a wet rag or wait for the paint to dry and re-paint that surface. Although it's tempting to use colors out of the tube, challenge yourself to mix a glorious springtime palette. As for the cleanup, make sure to thoroughly wash your brushes with water, as acrylic, once dry, is a permanent material.

So what are you waiting for? Buy your supplies, find a beautiful outdoor area, and get painting!