Join Eric Rhoads for the latest Plein Air Podcast episode as Joe McGurl shares insights on landscape painting, techniques, and the emotional connection to nature.
Bonus!
Eric Rhoads addresses how to find your ideal client/audience and how to market your art if you wish to step away from using social media.
Listen to the Plein Air Podcast with Eric Rhoads and Joe McGurl here:
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Related links from this episode of the Plein Air Podcast:
– Art Business Mastery Day
– 201 Essential Plein Air Painting Tips
– PaintTube.tv
– Plein Air Convention & Expo
– Joe McGurl online
What You’ll Hear in this Episode of the Plein Air Podcast
In this engaging episode of the Plein Air Podcast, Eric Rhoads and Joseph McGurl dive deep into the world of plein air painting, discussing techniques, inspirations, and the evolution of Joe’s artistic journey.
Meet Joe McGurl
Joe McGurl is recognized as one of the leading landscape painters in America. His passion for painting the western scenes shines through in his work, and he shares insights on how he creates stunning landscapes. Joe emphasizes that his approach combines a love for nature with a strong understanding of the physics of light and color.
Western Scenes and the Art World
Joe discusses the rising popularity of western themes in art, attributing part of this to the influence of Hollywood. He notes, “The whole movie Hollywood thing has given a real boost to it.” Joe enjoys incorporating cowboys into his landscapes to provide scale and context to the vastness of the terrain. He explains, “If you put a cowboy there on a horse, it suddenly gives it a sense of scale.”
Understanding Collectors and Their Preferences
Joe shares his observations on the collectors attending Western Art shows, noting that many have a genuine love for the western lifestyle. He describes the unique atmosphere at shows like the Coors Western Art Show: “It’s really unique.”
Landscape Painting Artistic Technique and Process
Discussing his artistic process, Joe explains how he often creates plein air studies that serve as references for larger studio pieces. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the landscape, stating, “The plein air paintings are ways to understand the landscape, and they’re almost like investigation.” He also shares his preference for a more detailed approach in studio paintings, saying, “It’s gonna be much more detailed, studied, and carefully rendered.”
Texture and Emotion in Landscape Painting
One of Joe’s recent focuses has been on texture and its relationship to the subject matter. He explains, “I’ve been doing a lot with texture, creating texture in the paint that has some type of tactile resemblance to the actual object I’m seeing.” He believes that conveying emotion through color and texture is crucial for capturing the essence of a landscape.
Challenges of Plein Air Painting
Joe acknowledges the challenges of plein air painting, such as capturing the essence of a scene quickly before the light changes. He shares tips for overcoming these hurdles, including the use of a viewfinder to maintain proportions and focus on shapes rather than details. “You have to figure out ways to indicate the objects without actually rendering each object,” he notes.
Teaching and Workshops
As a dedicated teacher, Joe discusses his approach to art workshops. He focuses on helping students improve their drawing skills and understanding of color. Joe emphasizes the importance of accurate drawing in landscape painting: “If they’re looking at a scene and the center of interest is in the top third of the painting, they don’t realize how huge that foreground space is.”
Final Thoughts on Landscape Painting
In closing, Joe reflects on the emotional connection he feels to the landscapes he paints. He believes that plein air painting allows artists to connect deeply with nature and express their feelings through art. “For me, anyway, landscape painting is extremely emotional. It’s just astounding how beautiful it is,” he shares.
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