Loadsa arty stuff the June McEwan way; Painting: Outdoor Oil Sketching

June McEwan 8 Mitchell St Crieff PH7 3AG

www.junemcewan.biz

Mob: 0777 187 5443

HOW-TO : Outdoor Oil Sketching

Equipment

Do your best to have everything you need in one bag.

I have a back pack which contains a small windsheild 'tent', a kneeling pad, 1 or 2 sketch pads, a charcoal pencil, umber oil bar, 5 paint brushes in a bamboo mat,(hogs hair sizes; 6/8 & 12, sable rigger size 4 and a detail sable size 2), a viewfinder, small binoculars, small canvas surfaces, rags, a small bottle of oil painting medium, small extra tube of white paint and any other colour I'm worried I might use up, coffee flask, baby wipes and flimsy plastic carrier bags. I carry a camera round my neck and my loaded pallette in my hand.

My Approach

Firstly, choose the space your going to work in, try to select a flat piece of ground to place the windsheild. Set it up. (You dont always need this, but I find it helps create a small private space between you and the public in addition to being a weather sheild and protector of equipment). I unload the bag and select a painting surface. I sit on the kneeling pad with my palette and canvas laid on the ground outwith the tent area. I remain under it's cover. Select the view to paint, perhaps do a quick sketch of it to get in the mood, then draw out using the oil bar. I always start by filling in the largest area- usually the sky. I try to use as little medium as possible and keep my brush relatively clean by rubbing it on rags. I almost never clean brushes until the painting is finished, (this helps with tonal values, texture and speed). Continue in this way until you are pleased with the picture. Remember, start with your biggest brush, use it for as long as possible before you start to detail. Eventually you may like to add finishing touches with the rigger or even the small sable. Remember to work in a size you can both complete within a realistic time frame... and carry!

Finishing

Clean your hands with the wipes. Pack the bag again. Place the palette in a plastic carrier bag or cover it in cling film and put it into the bag if you can as you will have to carry the painting(s) home. When you get home, wash the brushes in warm soapy water. Keep your paints covered until the next time!