Share to XWhile in New Zealand, I did a bit of plein air painting with my daughter Elora. She has been showing a keen interest in art and this was her first time trying her hand at plein air and working in oils. She’s a natural! I didn’t start plein air oil painting until I was an adult, so she’s getting a great head start. I imagine one day she will be teaching me a thing or two about painting.
I made it hard on her and only gave her three colors plus white. Cerulean (blue), magenta (red), and cadmium yellow. I then showed her how to use these colors to mix the secondary colors. Red plus blue equals purple. Red plus yellow equals orange. Yellow plus blue equals green. She watched as if she were witnessing magic.
She went on to paint her first ever plein air landscape, with minimal assistance from me. And she signed it complete with an “E” using the tip of a palette knife. Hopefully the first of many beautiful plein air experiences with her!
Arabella also had a turn. She is a bit more of an abstract expressionist!
I managed to paint a small landscape from the balcony. It took about an hour to complete over two sessions (the second session was really just to make the water a bit lighter). As far as plein air painting goes, it was fairly comfortable. The only challenges were the wind, which forced me to hold the easel as I painted, and the cold, which slowly froze my hands. But other than that, it was smooth sailing.
It truly is a landscape painter’s dream there in New Zealand. It feels surreal being surrounded by turquoise lakes, snow-capped mountains, and all the colorful trees, plants, and flowers. I envy those of you who live there.
In a separate email, I’ll share how I got these paintings home.
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Kind regards
Dan Scott
Draw Paint Academy
