Clouds Among the Lily Pads ~ Potomac Artworks

6.21.2010

Clouds Among the Lily Pads

Although Mason Neck State Park is close to home, I don't go there as often as I should. Let this be my reminder to do better.

Along the Bayview Trail next to Belmont Bay, one comes upon a beautiful wetlands, on the left, as the Potomac River feeds it from the right. Arrive at the wrong time and the view is obliterated by the changing tide!

This work comes from a picture taken from the boardwalk.It qualifies as my own "Landscape as Still Life" Award with the extra detail and careful positioning of the elements.

Clouds Among the Lily Pads
pastel with watercolor underpainting on Pastelbord
12x16

4 comments:

Alison said...: Hi Bonnie,

I've been looking around your site and really enjoy your art, particularly the pastels. I love working with them myself, so it's great to see your colours and ideas! Thanks for sharing.; June 22, 2010 at 10:29 AM
Bonnie said...: Thanks very much, Alison. I appreciate you coming by. Us pastelists definitely stick together! Is your work posted online?; June 22, 2010 at 12:42 PM
Alison said...: No, I'm a bit shy! That's why it's great to see your work because I think...Well? Maybe I could do that too!?

I think I would like to post some of your stuff onto my blog anyway, if that's ok.; June 22, 2010 at 11:11 PM
Bonnie said...: Hi Alison,
It's great to think of being able to inspire you. I love being an ambassador for pastels.

Would it be possible for you contact me directly? My email address is in the sidebar; I couldn't find your email address on your blog.

Thanks,
Bonnie; June 23, 2010 at 12:14 AM

The Charm of en Plein Air

Much of my work is done en plein air, French for "in the open air." People often associate it with the Impressionists, but the move to paint outside preceded them by a number of decades. The trend to appreciate landscapes as a genre at all was new for the time.

Several characteristics contribute to the distinctive beauty of en plein air painting. They are generally smaller in size in order to be able to capture a scene in a single sitting. Because of the time limit and environmental factors such as the sun and shadows moving, they often lack extensive details and might appear slightly fuzzy or unfinished. Lastly, they tend to have a freshness and spontaneity which makes them impossible to compare to traditional and methodological studio work. That said, my own studio work tends toward the same feel as en plein air, which then identifies my overall style: softness with an edge.

My aim when painting en plein air is for alla prima paintings, which roughly translates for me as "what happens outside, stays outside." It adds another level of difficulty to the work.

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6.21.2010