Using a plein air setup on a photography tripod, Clare Bowen gave an oil demonstration at Plein Air Live 2023 while painting a quaint boat named “NikNak” on a harbor in England. She chose the boat for this Beginner’s demo because she said it’s easier to start plein air painting if you focus on a simple subject.
Clare’s Quick Tips for Painting Outdoors
1. Get a good foundation and underpainting.
2. Simplify your scene. “You don’t have to get everything in there. Nature is complex,” but in a plein air painting, you can choose one subject.
3. Go small. Don’t be afraid of doing a little 6 x 8-inch painting.
4. Pre-mix your paint.
5. Be organized.
Go from feeling afraid to show off your paintings to being proud of your skills in just three days. Join us at Pastel Live, the world’s largest online art training event, August 17-19, 2023.
