By Mark Mehaffey
My first love is transparent watercolor on rag paper. But I realized some years ago that using watercolor on site takes not only practice but careful planning — especially to save the white of the paper for lighter values. My search for a more direct response when painting en plein air led me to acrylics. If I make a value or color mistake, I can wait five minutes for that passage to dry then paint over it to correct it. I mess up a lot, so acrylic painting is a good fit.
Reacting to what I see in the three-dimensional world and then trying to paint that onto a two-dimensional panel on location is difficult, but it’s also great fun and it enhances my studio work as well. I do my best to paint outside weekly at least, sometimes a bit more often. I also keep a regular studio practice in addition to other activities, so when I’m on location I usually only have an hour or two to paint.
This has led me to simplify what I see, decide on the focus, then paint fast. Acrylics are ideal for this approach. I use heavy-bodied paints that dry quickly, sometimes within minutes, which allows me to capture my visual story quickly and paint over any areas I want to revise as I go.
There’s a long list of other reasons I like acrylic painting for plein air, including ease of cleanup. I can wash my brushes with water, no solvent needed. I can basically just rub the paint off my hands, and most of the time I can remove it from my clothes (if I catch it early).
8 x 10 in., private collection, plein air
Acrylics are water-soluble so they can be thinned and applied like watercolor, used straight from the tube with thick impasto brushstrokes, or anything in between. I can paint on canvas, prepared panels, or paper. Acrylics can be applied in thin layers and built up, and mediums can be added to extend the drying time or add transparency.
Plus, the paintings dry fast. That means no mess in my pack or my car when transporting the work. It also means I don’t have to wait to frame them. Since no glass or plexiglass is needed, they can be dropped into a frame as-is. Acrylics offer many pluses for the plein air painter — and collectors love them as well.
Connect with the artist at markmehaffeyfineart.com.
And browse more free articles here at OutdoorPainter.com
