Sunday Plein air painting session

Training yourself for color mixing in plein air painting involves developing an understanding of color theory, practicing observation, and experimenting with different pigments and their combinations. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

1. Understand Color Theory

• Primary Colors: Red, yellow, and blue. These cannot be created by mixing other colors.
• Secondary Colors: Orange, green, and purple, created by mixing two primary colors.
• Tertiary Colors: Created by mixing primary and secondary colors.
• Color Wheel: Familiarize yourself with the color wheel to understand complementary, analogous, and triadic color schemes.
• Warm and Cool Colors: Learn which colors are warm (red, orange, yellow) and which are cool (blue, green, purple).

2. Gather Your Materials

• Palette: A good quality palette where you can mix colors.
• Paints: A basic set of high-quality acrylic, oil, or watercolor paints.
• Brushes: Various sizes and shapes of brushes.
• Canvas/Paper: Suitable for the medium you are using.

3. Practice Basic Color Mixing

• Mix Primary Colors: Practice creating secondary colors (e.g., red + yellow = orange).
• Create Tints and Shades: Mix colors with white to create tints and with black to create shades.
• Experiment with Complementary Colors: Mix complementary colors (e.g., red and green) to see how they neutralize each other.

4. Develop Your Observation Skills

• Study Natural Light: Observe how natural light affects colors at different times of the day.
• Analyze the Environment: Look at the colors in your surroundings and how they change with light, shadow, and distance.
• Make Color Swatches: Create swatches of colors you observe in nature.

5. Do Color Studies

• Simple Scenes: Start with simple scenes to practice mixing and matching colors.
• Value Studies: Focus on the value (lightness or darkness) of colors before moving on to full-color studies.

6. Paint Outdoors

• Set Up Your Easel: Find a comfortable spot with a good view.
• Observe and Paint: Spend time observing before you start painting.
• Mix Colors on the Spot: Try to match the colors you see in nature as closely as possible.

7. Experiment and Record

• Keep a Color Journal: Document your mixes and the conditions under which you mixed them.
• Try Different Combinations: Experiment with different primary color combinations to see how they influence the resulting mixes.

8. Learn from Others

• Study the Masters: Look at how famous plein air painters mix and apply colors.
• Take Workshops: Join plein air painting groups or workshops to learn from experienced artists.
• Online Resources: Watch tutorials and read articles on color mixing and plein air painting.

9. Consistent Practice

• Daily Practice: Dedicate time each day to practice mixing colors.
• Challenge Yourself: Try painting in different weather conditions and times of the day.

Practical Exercises:

1. Monochromatic Studies: Use different values of a single color to create a painting.
2. Limited Palette: Create a painting using only a few colors, forcing you to mix to achieve the desired hues.
3. Color Matching: Pick colors from nature and try to mix them accurately on your palette.

By understanding the basics of color theory and practicing regularly in a variety of outdoor settings, you’ll develop the skills needed for effective color mixing in plein-air painting.

Finally, how do I paint plein air, well,  it is simple I will start with something interesting, get it done on the panel and I will continue to paint the rest around what I paint, In this way, I will able to capture what nature offers to me quickly. Sometimes I will refine my painting when I get home by my memory.
I reduce brushes to 3-4.