Plein Air Down Under
This year I (sort of) attended Plein Air Down Under for the first time. I love the idea of painting en plein air, or on location. Sometimes I get a little sketch done, but I haven’t really taken the time to do a proper painting. This annual event in Mandurah and around the Peel region seemed like a good a time as any to give it a go!
I say “sort of” because I only managed to participate in a couple of activities this time, having managed to organise a family trip to Mandurah for the same weekend. I didn’t expect to do more than have a quick look, but I was able to get half a day to myself to be part of the Quick Draw event, where artists had 2 hours to paint around Mandjar Square. I was a bit underprepared and a little intimidated by all the experienced artists with awesome setups, but I found myself a shady spot with some nice water reflections and the side of the Mandurah Performing Arts Center and got to work. Landscapes are not really my comfort zone but I did my best!
When the 2 hours were up all the artists came back into the main square to show off their work on their easels (or on the table of a kind artist who shared with me!). Pricing artwork is also not in my comfort zone, and I didn't really believe anyone would buy my work, so priced it very low. It ended up being purchased by someone moving into her first home on her own, looking for something affordable to decorate it with. I was so touched that she liked it enough to buy it!
Later back home I tried to recreate my painting in my sketchbook, from a photo.
On another day of the festival I watched an oil painting demonstration by Leon Holmes in Pinjarra, and I wasn't the only one sketching him as he went. How amazing to be able to paint a scene with people actively moving through and clouds rolling overhead changing the light conditions, all whilst talking through the thought process! I wish I had made it to the watercolour demonstration, as it's such a different medium to oils where things can be added and removed even late in the process.
Inspired by the festival I did some more plein air sketching back at the house we stayed at in South Yunderup, which was a stunning spot on the canals. A local waterbird spent his afternoons hanging out on the corner of the jetty next door, just waiting to be sketched.
Plein Air Down Under has given me a taste (and even more respect) for painting en plein air. I really want to make more time to join in the local plein air paint outs and get to know some other artists, and maybe come back to the next PADU solo next time!
