I just returned from a two-night art trip in the Noosa Hinterlands. It was just me, my dog Kobe, and nature. Though we did have a resident horse visit us a few times.
One of my struggles lately has been finding time to detach and focus on art. As wholesome as life is with a beautiful wife and two daughters, it certainly isn’t good for uninterrupted periods of focused work. The idea of this trip was to do nothing but draw, paint, find inspiration, and let my mind wander.
Kobe is also the wise age of 13 and I wanted to spoil him a bit while he is still in good health and spirits. Ever since the birth of our first daughter, we haven’t been able to treat him like an only child.
Anyway, here’s how the trip went and a few lessons learned.
Day 1
I arrived on a Tuesday afternoon. I was too tired from the drive to paint, so I simply explored the area and took reference photos of promising spots. Kobe, however, had other plans and was quick to jump into the creek, which was floodwater brown. Being the highly domesticated animal he is, he swam up the creek and got stuck. I thought I would have to join him, but thankfully, he figured out to go back the way he came.
It was a beautiful area, but finding “paintable” subjects was still a challenge. I found myself being overwhelmed by all the detail and information. So many colors, highlights, edges, shapes, lines, and lines. It took a while for my mind to make sense of it all and see in a more simplified view (through artist eyes). I managed to find a few subjects that warranted a closer look the next day.
Day 2
This was my only full day and what I hoped to be the most productive.
I got up early and wanted to get in as much painting as I could. But I wasn’t sold on any subject just yet. I explored again but this time with my sketchbook. I sketched a few subjects to see what they looked like on paper. Sometimes photos don’t capture all the important details of the subject. It flattens it somewhat, and in doing so, flattens its essence and character. Drawing and painting from life allows me to document what I am actually seeing and experiencing rather than what a camera sees. There is a difference! If you don’t believe me, find any object and observe it closely. Then take a photo of it and compare the photo to what you see in life. It won’t be a perfect match. The perspective and colors will be different.
The sketches sparked my inspiration much more than taking the photos. It’s like the act of sketching the subject forced me to observe more carefully and, in doing so, notice more interesting characteristics and patterns.
I was ready to paint.
I set up my equipment and waddled down to the side of the creek. It was wet and muddy, with the ground being saturated from days of dreary weather. But I loved it. There was something about being out there amongst the raw elements that I found to be truly satisfying.
I set up on the side of the creek, looking down towards a tree overhanging the water. Reflections of the sky formed these beautiful, near-white shapes on the water. Below the overhanging leaves and branches, all these different greens danced in the shadows. And on the water’s surface, raindrops and insects caused circular ripples that sometimes clashed and overlapped.
I approached the subject as an arrangement of simple shapes and colors, hoping not to get overwhelmed by all detail and noise. I started with the water, then the creek edge and the feature tree, then the nature at the back, then the overhanging leaves, and finally the sky reflections on the water and other tiny details. I find that for busy subjects like this with many overlapping parts, the order in which you paint the parts matters.
As I painted, the rain gradually picked up. I continued for as long as I could before I had to pack up shop. Here’s how it turned out. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a photo of the finished painting next to the subject.
Not bad given the conditions!
In the afternoon, I started another painting. A simple landscape inspired by Claude Monet’s View at Rouelles, Le Havre. (Fun fact: This is one of Monet’s earliest documented paintings.) Unfortunately, the rain got the better of me with this one. It turns out that oil paint plus a little bit of water is fine. But too much and it turns into this gluggy, unworkable stuff.
At night, I went over all the photos and sketches I had taken so far to work out what to paint the following day. This can be a productive and valuable time! And it can be the difference between another successful painting and nothing. Kobe also gave me another fright. It was 9:30 pm and pitch black outside. I let him out for the toilet and for whatever reason, he wandered straight into the dense vegetation and foliage. I could see his tail disappear amongst the plants. Then, there was just the sound of rustling and plants shaking in the distance. Kobe is completely deaf so my calls went unanswered. Here I am, in the rain, barefoot in my underwear and with the weak torch of my phone, and about to go on a rescue mission for my lost golden retriever. I found Kobe stuck in a deep trench and had to haul him out. Of course, his nighttime off-the-lead privileges were terminated from thereon.
Day 3
I wanted to get one more decent painting in before I left. The subject that caught my eye was the dirt path leading up to another part of the property. It was an interesting play between space and color temperature. There was also this beautiful, misty atmosphere.
Checkout was 10 am and there was still packing to be done, so I needed to work particularly fast on this one. I started with a brush but eventually swapped over to a palette knife as it allowed me to work faster.
The resident horse also joined me at one point.
Here’s how it turned out. Decent, but I was a bit rushed towards the end.
I had to improvise a bit to get the paintings home safely.
All up, I came away with two decent paintings, a few rough sketches, hundreds of reference photos, and a relaxed and inspired mind. Not bad!
Happy painting!
Dan Scott
Draw Paint Academy
Thank you. As always, I found this inspiring and helpful. I appreciate you.
Some much to imagination and belief in the process . If you check in the background on the top of the painting , there is a silhouette of a man .
You are so blessed ,
Lydia Vega
I so enjoy your letters and examples. You and your dog had quite the adventure!
Actually under the weather circumstances you did quite well. Usually the challenge is the ever changing sunlight but for you it was the rain. That element forced you to hone in on what was most important for you to express in your paintings. That pushed you to paint quickly, which isn’t a bad thing! Thanks for sharing, it was encouraging to me!!
I really appreciate showing that one can work in almost any weather.
I loved the narrative, I truly felt like I was in that beautiful place too… very inspiring!
Thank you for sharing and I’m glad Kobe made it home safely! (you too)
Really enjoyed this. Thanks for sharing your art, trials, and tribulations. Very enjoyable.
Joyce
Following you from S Africa. Really enjoyed your narrative, stories about Kobi and your explanation about your process etc. Gave me a lot to think about. Thank you
Thank you, Dan, for taking us with you on your painting adventure with Kobe. You did a great job painting challenging locations and captured the dampness of it all!
Thanks for sharing your “painting escape” experience. Kobe added a bit of excitement to the adventure… Have you painted Kobe?
I enjoyed your narrative…instructive and interesting!
Thanks Dan. Always good to hear from you. Painting in the rain is a wonderful moody light show for we Aussies who mainly paint with our sunnies on. It was pouring a couple of weeks ago at Lake Catalina in Katoomba and we painted looking out from under the trees. Dribbles of water down my canvases but the paintings turned out very gently lovely
I love the tree overhanging the water. Taking a closer look at it gave me much needed insight for catching reflections and water movement. Thank you for sharing!
A wonderful account of an adventure in art and nature
>>>———-> Thank you
Ishaq Deis <————-<<<
Thank you very much for sharing your trip which is very inspired for plein air artists ( including me).
Very very nice lessons for me from your experience !
Thank you Dan. I love these mini lessons from your painting adventures. Before I looked at your finished painting, I envisioned how I would have painted them. What amazed me is I saw a completely different painting from yours!! Was it because you’re more experienced?
Dan–
I love this! At first I’m thinking Oh this is going to be a disaster! But look at the good paintings you got out of it! You are a continual inspiration.
Susan
Thank you for journaling your painting get away. It reminds me of the process I go thru. I , too, need to get back to painting….this makes me want to dive back in!
Your adventure and successful Art process inspired me on many levels, Dan. Gratuitously shared, it displays life at a meaningful level.
Thanks and blessings, Kathryn
Love the freshness of the plein air approach! Thank you for sharing your experience..very enlightening.
Really enjoyed this one & love the 2nd painting! Thanks for sharing your adventure as well as your work!
Dan, this was a special column for me, especially living in Montana. Thank you so much for sharing. As usual your paintings are an inspiration. The greens are so great!! Our old lab is also stone deaf so have to chase her down when she wanders off!!
Thank you Dan for allowing me to take this enjoyable fun trip with you and Kobe. You handle and use of words is just as delightful as to the way you handle your brushwork .
The two paintings are delightful.
Thank you very much!!
Penrhyn
Thanks for your post, Dan. I really enjoy how you documented your “art trip.” It inspires me to plan one for myself. And I love seeing your fresh paintings.
Well thanks for the incentive to paint what is there in front of of you . I am always looking for my next painting scene when we are on holidays but of course thats not when I have my acrylics but I do try to capture the scenes in watercolour. Your work is beautiful.
Thank you. Loved each part of your adventure. I thought you were going to include the horse in the 2nd painting!
The point I learned from your post today is not to keep looking for the perfect scene – but study the points of interest in what you have! I imagine this is part of the skills you develop in plein air – which I have not done much of! Bear with me – been at it a little over a year, and I learn more & more from every post you make 🙂
The point I learned from your post today is not to keep looking for the perfect scene – but study the points of interest in what you have! I imagine this is part of the skills you develop in plein air – which I have not done much of! Bear with me – been at it a little over a year, and I learn more & more from every post you make 🙂
I thoroughly enjoy your stories and adventures in art. Being in the space, breathing in the smells and hearing the sounds of the bush revitalise our connection and passions for all the parts of our lives. Thankyou for inviting us on your journey.
Hi Dan, following you from United Kingdom… Really enjoyed the story behind each painting and the animals that visited made it even more life-like. Loved the location an ideal hideaway place despite the weather. Look forward to your next inspirational tips and ebooks. Dee.
HELLO DAN, thank you for share your experience. was amazing what you did.
Your place is unique , you have so much to paint, to explore and enjoy. I was feeling the atmosphere, the mod… fantastic. Thank you for this incredible experience.
Elda.
Thank you, Dan, for a lovely “visit” with you. A very inspiring and educational account.
Thank you Dan. I do enjoy your adventurous spirit. Plein air is something to be admired! I tried it once….flies, bugs in my paint, canvas blowing over! You’re a good man.
It’s great how you narrate your trips. It makes me feel like I’m there. I love the outdoors but prefer a camera in my hand. Then back to my studio with some decent reference photos.
Keep that spirit alive and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.
Thank you for taking us along. A beautiful getaway to restore yourself. Sometimes we really need that and are better for everyone we care about including ourselves. Your paintings are beautiful and I love how you see.
To get my wet oil paintings home I sometimes use a pizza box (clean if course- I just asked for an extra when I ordered out)
Or sometimes I just double over some painters tape and attach it to the top of the lid of my stay wet palette box.
Brilliant! Pizza box- great idea, thanks
Thank you, Dan. That was inspiring! What a beautiful place. To have an artist’s retreat!