I don’t often paint en plein air. To be honest, plein air is a whole different beast for me 😅
First, there’s the sheer sensory overload: the abundance of colors, textures, and shifting light makes narrowing down a composition out in the wild quite a challenge. Every artist knows the trap of wanting to capture everything at once — from the hazy silhouette of the mountains in the distance to every tiny crisp leaf right at your feet!
Then you’re constantly at the mercy of the elements: the sun is so bright that watercolors dry in seconds, and the wind has a knack for flipping sketchbook pages and chasing paper towels across the lawn. Before you know it, hours have flown by, and you’re either sunburned and thirsty or completely shivering from sitting still for two hours straight. Well, you get the picture!
Still, I’m not throwing in the towel. I’m slowly building up my plein air stamina, one small outing at a time. Today, that meant heading to a wonderfully tranquil spot called Blake Garden in Kensington, CA. A fellow artist recommended I check it out, and even past its peak season, the quiet, dormant autumn garden had a lovely charm as I wandered along its shady paths.
When I reached the redwood grove by a tiny creek, I simply couldn’t resist settling in and unpacking my paints. Two hours later — legs completely numb from the cold — I stepped back, quietly pleased with how it turned out. I only wish it looked a bit less labored, haha. Capturing that effortless, spontaneous brushwork on location is a lifelong pursuit, but I’m definitely enjoying the journey.
For now, here is the redwood grove at Blake Garden. Painted on 10"×14" Baohong 100% cotton watercolor paper with Rosa Gallery watercolors.
