Share to XHere’s a little plein air study I did recently. Don’t judge too harshly! This was a tricky subject and challenging conditions. The water chopped and churned against the shore, and gradually receded with the outgoing tide. The light came and went based on the clouds. And I was under constant attack from mosquitoes and midges. But it was good fun! There’s nothing quite like the challenge of painting plein air, amongst the raw elements. I would do it all the time if not for its logistical challenges.
This isn’t my best work. But it’s important nonetheless. My best work cannot exist without hundreds, or even thousands, of average works. They go hand in hand. You must put in the work to get good, and in doing so, you will end up creating many “average” artworks.
Keep this in mind when you complete a painting and you’re unsatisfied with the outcome. It’s all progress! Think of it as one of the many stepping stones on the way to producing your best work. Don’t shun it.
That’s why I share almost everything I paint. I want to give you an honest look at what progress looks like.
Happy painting!
Dan Scott
Draw Paint Academy
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Most of what I put out is completely free, but if you ever want to dive deeper, check out the following:
Tree Workshop: Our latest workshop. Join me and hundreds of other students as we paint trees from around the world.
Painting Academy: Get up to speed on the fundamentals.
Landscape Painting Masterclass: A deep dive into landscape painting and how to capture nature’s beauty in a painting.
