Watching a Master Paint in Mineral King, Part 4

This is the scene we were viewing.
This is the painting at the end of the afternoon.

Watching Martin “Marty” Weekly paint plein air in Mineral King was a huge privilege and a great learning opportunity. It is one thing to take a workshop in Georgia, where everything is unfamiliar. It is another thing to watch someone paint a landscape that I know very well, so I can understand how decisions are made to include some items and simplify or ignore others.

Here are some of the many things that Marty taught me in the 3 hours we stood there together:

  1. If your brush feels comfortable, try the next size up. (Why? I try to do this so that I get the painting finished in a timely manner, but I think Marty does this so he doesn’t get overly detailed.)
  2. Cobalt blue with white mades a very accurate sky color.
  3. All paintings look terrible in the beginning, even if you are as terrific as Marty Weekly!
  4. Adjust the parts of your painting to suit you and make the best composition possible, while retaining the recognizable characteristics of the scene.
  5. No one finishes on location; almost every plein air painter knows there will be finishing required in the studio.
  6. Turpentine from the hardware store is good enough – no need to pay for overpriced art supply turpentine.
  7. There is a brush cleaner available from the hardware store that will salvage any dried-out brush (I can’t wait to try this!)
  8. Try Permanent Rose instead of Alizarin Crimson for one of the mixing reds. (Why? I have this color, so I will find out!)
The sky can be finished in the studio, along with the various vegetation in the foreground. We talked about Goldenrod, Sage, and Asters, which are all present in September; he made visual reminders. We also talked about the stream, getting at least the lay of the land so there is a sense of the stream.

I am looking forward to seeing the finished painting! Since the intended recipients are friends of mine, I will ask to see a photo, and hope I can show you.

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2 Comments

  1. 9. Plein Air means you don’t necessary paint what you see (e.g. add a mountain, change trees, etc.)?

    • Because plein air artist have to simplify, they often do some serious editing and adjusting of the facts.

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