“Ediza Lake,” by Ned Mueller, oil

"I based the painting on work I did on location during a trip to Spain and Portugal I made with three artist friends about 20 years ago,” Mueller explains. “We painted on the southern coast of Portugal for about a week and spent one day in Lagos. Artists have been attracted to harbors all through history, largely because of the opportunity to use the wide variety of boats, buildings, objects and reflections to make some compelling works of art. I have traveled all over the world and the Lagos Harbor is one of the very best! It is a fairly large working harbor and has a lot of colorful small boats and larger ships with a lot of character ... no slick fibre glass boats around there!

“I did "Last Light, Lagos, Portugal" in the studio from about 5 different photos and made up the rest. I tried to design the composition using the boats, ships and figures to lead the eye around and also by changing or emphasizing the color, values and edges in certain cases,” Mueller goes on to explain. “I made the figure become the center of interest by having him standing up and contrasting his form against the bright orange ship behind him. I also made sure that area was the most interesting part of the painting."

“Last Light, Lagos, Partugal,” by Ned Mueller, oil, 12 x 16

Mueller was born in Wisconsin and raised in Montana, graduated from Art Center College of Design where he also taught drawing while still a student, and worked as an illustrator for 25 years until 1984 when he established an enviable career as a full-time professional artist. He is a signature member of the Oil Painters of America, the Northwest Watercolor Society, the Plein Air Painters of America, the Laguna Plein Air Painters of America, and the Northwest Rendezvous Society.

Among the many prizes Mueller has received in plein air events are the Best of Show in Plein Air Easton 2010, First Place 2008 in the San Juan Plein Air Show, and Best of Show 2008 in the Herndon, Virginia Museum Plein Air Show. His paintings have also been included in a number of group and solo exhibitions; they have been included in feature articles in magazines and books; and they have been acquired by important collectors. For more information, visit www.nedmueller.com.

“Upper Meadow, Ritter Range,” by Ned Mueller, oil

Although PleinAir magazine celebrates works of art created directly from nature, we recognize that artists’ procedures are less important that the final expression they offer in their paintings. For that reason, the 1st Annual PleinAir Salon Competition is open to entries created on location or in the studio. For more information, visit our website, www.ourdoorpainter.com, and click on the tab that says “WIN $20,000.” Enter your work in the November/December bi-monthly competition going on right now!