Hi, Phil. Long ago I did a lot of plein air competitions, in CA. mostly, and some in Co., and it seemed like all was about "architecture", even if terrible featureless stuff like the long white slab-sided mission in San Luis Obispo, where they held the "quick draw" (what I called a "trained monkey" event they all had then, now too I guess) which happened to be right across from the art center hosting the plein air event. Nice folks running it, but it did not help us find good compositions there. It really "turned me off" painting any more of it, now I only do pure landscapes without the "mark of man", as I call it. There was some good marine stuff, in Morro Bay, however, that I painted, but I'm really done with the "sweet little historic buildings" and "cute little boats" as subjects, ...at least for now. ;D But the tutorial still applies here, emphasis on the focal point and de-emphasize that which is not in the focal point area, clear away the "clutter", in order to make the focal point, and thus the whole painting, sing. Amazing to me how, after years and years, you see folks you know, like in my plein air club here in Tucson, who must have heard this, still not getting it down in their work. And when they ask you for a "critique", you just want to run away and hide from them, LOL. Thanks again. :D
TY. Always enlightening.
You're welcome
Great info. Thanks.❤
You are so welcome!
Thanks, so useful.
You're welcome
Ty
Very educational 👌👌👌
Glad it was helpful
Hi, Phil. Long ago I did a lot of plein air competitions, in CA. mostly, and some in Co., and it seemed like all was about "architecture", even if terrible featureless stuff like the long white slab-sided mission in San Luis Obispo, where they held the "quick draw" (what I called a "trained monkey" event they all had then, now too I guess) which happened to be right across from the art center hosting the plein air event. Nice folks running it, but it did not help us find good compositions there. It really "turned me off" painting any more of it, now I only do pure landscapes without the "mark of man", as I call it. There was some good marine stuff, in Morro Bay, however, that I painted, but I'm really done with the "sweet little historic buildings" and "cute little boats" as subjects, ...at least for now. ;D
But the tutorial still applies here, emphasis on the focal point and de-emphasize that which is not in the focal point area, clear away the "clutter", in order to make the focal point, and thus the whole painting, sing.
Amazing to me how, after years and years, you see folks you know, like in my plein air club here in Tucson, who must have heard this, still not getting it down in their work. And when they ask you for a "critique", you just want to run away and hide from them, LOL. Thanks again. :D