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A plein air outing on Salt Spring Island

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The day was pretty much an overcast one but that didn’t stop me and my Mum and Dad from venturing forth into the wilds of Salt Spring to paint en plein air. Okay, a slight exaggeration since we just went a short way up the hill and around the corner to Sharpe Rd. Such a cool grey day and yet we managed to find subject matter to paint and you know, I’m quite happy with what I did. So here’s the progress and final pastel.

 

First, here’s the plein air subject. You can see that it was a grey day with little light and shadow.

 

My initial thumbnail sketch in pen and ink

 

The charcoal sketch on mounted Wallis paper (9×12″)

 

My three values placed – light, middle, dark. I wanted a cool mid tone under the greens and a warm colour in the darks.

 

Beginning to add the second layer. I suddenly realized the yellow over the blue at the top was way too light so stopped adding that colour! What was I thinking? (Obviously I wasn’t!)

 

Really starting to build the image

 

In the midst of the grouping of trees was one that was a mass of dead branches. I wasn’t sure how I was going to portray them but they had to go in as they are part of what attracted me to this plein air scene.

 

Adding more highlights. I also decided to add a small tree trunk at the far left, feeling it was needed. At this point I was beginning to get picky and I felt it was time to stop. I’d have a look at it back in the studio and make any changes there with a fresh eye and hand (so to speak).

 

Here are my plein air companions: first, my Dad sketching up a storm

 

And then there’s my Mum – watercolouring off the tailgate

 

And finally, there’s me at my easel 🙂

 

My pastels at the end of the plein air painting session

 

And here’s the final plein air pastel after a bit more work in the studio: SHARPE RD, SALT SPRING ISLAND, pastel on Wallis paper, 9 x 12″

 

Ahhhh…a fine time on Salt Spring. As I was leaving, I noticed this……..

 

Fulford bus stop chair and ottoman. Only on Salt Spring

 

And now I’m off on a wee road trip. Two things to be done: visit gallery in Kelowna (I’ll report back on that) and visit Asha in Kimberly. Other than that, it’s a wandering getaway with my honey. And NO computer!!! Ouch, that’s gonna be a toughie. I’ll report back on how that goes too. I’ll be in deep withdrawal I think but will have our adventure to take my mind off it.

 

Enjoy tonight’s Blue Moon. It appears on the same day as Neil Armstrong’s memorial service. (Neil died at the age of 82 on 25th Aug after complications following a recent cardiac bypass surgery.) Do you remember the first landing on the moon on 20 July 1969?

 

As always, I’d love to hear from you!

 

Thanks for reading.

 

~ Gail

 

 

 

 

 

3 thoughts on “A plein air outing on Salt Spring Island”

  2. joanne Sibley

    Such a lovely painting on such a lovely fun day. Worth all the effort.We are Looking forward to accompanying you again!

    Reply

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