Plein Air Paintings

Carl's Water Garden

Oil on canvas, 18 x 25

Two Art Students in Painting Class

Oil on canvas, 12 x 16

Our painting class instructor Mr. Carl Schwartz has an exquisite water garden at home with large goldfish swimming in the pond which was surrounded by all kinds of plants. A small wooden bridge divided the pond into two parts. Each f the students had to complete an 18 x 25 acrylic painting of a scene he/she selected in his garden in two week sessions. Last week we were allowed to paint only an hour and a half and then left our paintings in his home so that there would be "no cheating". we were supposed to continue to paint and finish the job today. I arrived there 15 minutes ahead of the scheduled time. To my surprise, most students were already there painting. When I went inside to get my painting, Carl said to me, "You did really quick last week, but don't overdo it. Add some warm colors and then stop. I'll give you an extra canvas for you to paint after the break for class critique." So I did two paintings instead of one. However, the second one was really a quick sketch. I believe it took less than an hour. I promised myself to paint figures in sun even if just a sketch -- still feeling itchy about Joaquin Sorolla's sunlight and wanted to challenge myself. I asked the girls how long they were going to stay. The girl sitting on the ground said that she was waiting for someone who was still painting and she would stay there as long as her friend was painting. I didn't remember her name even though she was also in my drawing class last year. The name of the girl who stood painting behind her was Maria. I happened to sit next to her when I dropped into the class on the fourth week when i was back from New York. I felt good when I was sweeping my brushes across the canvas as quickly as possible. Hope you like them both.