I went off on my own today and sketched for a bit. I needed to de-stress after a day gone incredibly wrong. Sometimes just a pencil and a sketch book is the best weapon for anger management.
Sketch City Marina
11 Tuesday Sep 2012
Author Archives: Elizabeth Gaye MacDonald
The London Plane Tree
10 Monday Sep 2012
Posted in Art, Plein Air, Watercolour
Monday’s sketch. The London Plane is a cross between an American sycamore and an oriental plane. Their bark is quite colourful.
New Isabey brushes!
17 Friday Aug 2012
Posted in Art
I’m so excited. A friend of mine put these brushes up for sale on Facebook and I’ve been wanting an Isabey brush forever. Now I have 3!! They are incredible brushes. YAY! they hold a ton of paint, and keep an incredible point.
Cedar Beach en Plein Air
06 Monday Aug 2012
Posted in Art, Landscape, Plein Air, Watercolour
An incredible day at the beach. It was the Civic Holiday and there were a lot of vacationer’s at the beach. Sail boats, kayaks, jet ski’s, powerboats, and all manner of floating craft entered Lake Erie through the channel behind me. There were many families under umbrellas on the beach as well. This is a beautiful public beach. A very well kept secret too. Shhh… don’t tell anyone how beautiful Essex County is, they may all decided to move here.
Explore the Shore 2012, John R Park Homestead,
30 Monday Jul 2012
Posted in Art, Landscape, Plein Air, Watercolour
Explore the Shore 2012, John R Park Homestead, , a photo by photographerpainterprintmaker on Flickr.
My painting from the weekend. We had a big event in my area this weekend called Explore the Shore. (North Shore of Lake Erie) I was demonstrating Plein Air Painting at John R Park Homestead. It’s a really beautiful historic homestead. We had a lot of people come through. I spent the two days painting and explaining what Plein Air Painting was. I also invited people to join our group on Mondays. This event got us some really great new members last year. I sold one painting, and have interest on 2 more.
Willestead Manor Grounds, East Entrance
23 Monday Jul 2012
Posted in Art, Landscape, Moleskine, Watercolour
Another scorcher, and high winds to boot. So, again I opted for the Moleskine. I try to keep it simple on these days. One of our members, Gary , paints in oils. The wind knocked his easel, and he ended up with two big hand prints in his painting of the manor. Discouraging to say the least.
Terry & Gary brave the scorching heat at our paint out today., a photo by photographerpainterprintmaker on Flickr.
Malden Park Pond
16 Monday Jul 2012
Posted in Art, Landscape, Moleskine, Plein Air, Watercolour
It’s been so busy for me this summer. so, I’m going to play catch up on my blog tonight. This was a blazing hot day. So I decided to keep it simple and got out my Moleskine. Two page vertical spread. The pond was green/brown, not at all inviting. The Canada Geese didn’t seem to mind though.
Join Me Plein Air Painting In Tuscany in May 2013
19 Tuesday Jun 2012
Tags
Art, botanical, Botony, flower, Flowers, Italy, journal, Landscape, Plein Air, Plein Air Painting, Watercolor, Watercolour, Workshop
Hosted by Toscana Americana Workshops
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Watercolor en Plein Air in Tuscany with Artist/instructor Elizabeth G MacDonald May 8-15, 2013 Cortona, Italy
I am very excited to offer a workshop in Tuscany next spring 2013.
In this workshop I will be focusing on sketching and watercolour en Plein Air. The day will begin with a short discussion, demo and question period. Throughout the day, each student will receive individual instruction. We will Alternate between quick sketches in a journal, and larger paintings. As an urban and a landscape painter I am at home painting in any environment. The focus will be on capturing the rapidly changing light and contrasting values as the day progresses. You will also learn how to interpret colour using a limited palette. I will teach you how to edit what you see en Plein Air to create your cherished memory of Tuscany. As an added bonus I will show you how to use photography as a tool to plan your composition,photograph your work for the web or to make art cards from your paintings. These keepsakes can be shared with friends and family. You will learn how to work Plein Air painting into your daily life. I will be only demonstrating watercolour, but if you are an experienced painter who wishes to do your own thing you are more than welcome to participate at the same cost. You may bring any mediums you like with you. However, if you bring oils do not bring thinners, as they are prohibited from flights. You may purchase thinners at the local art store.
This workshop is suitable for the beginner or the experienced painter. Click these links for frequently asked questions, workshop information and registration rates.
I wish to introduce you to the joy of painting in the largest studio in the world, the great outdoors. When I paint en Plein Air I experience nature and the world in an intimate way not experienced by the casual observer. The experience exhilarates me. I am also a photographer. When I capture nature and life through a camera lens I feel more like a voyeur, stealing a moment in time. However, when I paint I become immersed in my surroundings with all my senses. I am alert, and the scene becomes a part of my existence. My heart yearns to interpret what is before me. By painting en Plein Air I go beyond copying that stolen moment in a photograph in the studio. I live the moment. I live the painting. The experience becomes a memory not soon forgotten. When people see my work, I’d like them to experience a bit of what it was like to be there. There is no greater joy for me then when I introduce others to painting en Plein Air.
Ciao!
Recommended supplies, partial list.
Friends of Pike Creek Park, Beaver Dam
11 Monday Jun 2012
Posted in Art, Moleskine, Plein Air, Watercolour
Tags
It’s been too long since I added a blog entry. Forgive me! I will be writing to you about our wonderful first ever group show soon.
Even though the day was cloudy with a few sprinkles I managed to stay dry, and find light in the midst of this very grey day. The mosquitoes even left me alone for the most part. This watercolour is of a beaver dam in a little known conservation area just south of Windsor, On. It took a keen eye to find a scene, but we found some great ones!
Hyram Walker’s Distillery from the other side of the tracks.
04 Monday Jun 2012
Posted in Art, cityscape, Plein Air, Watercolour
Tags
Today found us doing a bit of Urban sketching. Even though Hyram Walker’s Distillery is now owned by Wisers, no one in Windsor calls the plant Wisers. Walkerville will always be Walkerville. Anyway, in our group the Windsor & Essex County Plein Air Society we are starting to try out themes for our paint out locations. Todays them was Urban Sketching, or street scenes. I thought I’d try a bit different composition. Not sure how successful this particular subject was, but I will try it again sometime soon.
Elizabeth Gaye MacDonald 