Don’t Panic

I’d spent the morning down at the canal at Purton, walking down the towpath for a few miles in the strong breeze.

I had a viewfinder in one hand, and was stopping a lot to hold it up and test out compositions.

There was intermittent sunshine with a lot of fast-moving cloud.

It felt so good to be out in the open air.

I didn’t paint anything, but I wasn’t disappointed.

I’m learning that sometimes, it’s enough just to go out and walk.

To look, and imagine how the landscape could be translated into paint.

To practise mentally simplifying into the big shapes.

Back in the studio, I lit the fire.

About an hour before sunset, the sun came out, unbroken by cloud as it dropped close to the top of the trees.

So I grabbed my kit, called the dogs and went out into the orchard behind the house.

Painted this tree.

Starting is hard

For some reason, that moment when I decide “this is what I’m going to paint” and start setting up is stressful.

And if I’m not careful, that translates into rushing once I’ve got everything set up and I start.

I’m pretty sure that’s the best way to spoil a painting.

It’s not that I expect every plein air painting to come out well, I know they won’t.

Mostly, they’re about learning, and about being in the moment, and I try to look at them that way.

But still, I have to make a mental effort to calm down and work slowly. Even if I can see the light going.

So I squint, try to simplify the shapes in my mind, down to three or four, and then mix the colours for those shapes before I put anything on the panel.

I think I got lucky with this little painting. I worked 7 x 5 because I knew I wouldn’t have much time.

I blocked in the main shapes with a paper towel and a little sponge. They went in quickly, but unhurried.

I tried to take the time to get the shapes right.

I only just managed to get it pretty much done before the sun dropped below the trees and the light went completely, the tree was all in shadow.

About an hour, probably.

Tanzie dug a huge hole and got herself covered in mud, I didn’t notice.

Teddy lay down in the long grass and chomped an apple.

I know those apples on the trees in the orchard, along with the leaves, will be gone soon, so I’m happy I managed to get out and paint this one.

Just to spend some time responding to the light.

Like flowers, and the moon, I think the trees will be reaching their best when they’re just about to wane and fade.

Just about now.

This was yesterday. It was a good day.