dabbling in oils

plein air and alla prima

I've painted in oils over the years, using various methods. But I haven't tried just painting alla prima (wet over wet, all in one setting)...until now.
On a hot summer day, a fellow artist helped me break the ice (thanks, Dave!). We started by painting some tomatoes growing on my deck.

Above, Dave sees and paints lovely contrast with a dramatic flair.

My approach (above) was all about the color and the light first, and the forms second.

my first finished oil painting alla prima, july 26, 2018

touch ups

It's so easy to change an oil painting, we both found it difficult determining when our paintings were done.

plein-air defined

[pleyn-air; French ple-ner]

adjective
1.pertaining to a manner or style of painting developed chiefly in France in the mid-19th century, characterized by the representation of the luminous effects of natural light and atmosphere as contrasted with the artificial light and absence of the sense of air or atmosphere associated with paintings produced in the studio.
2.designating a painting executed out of doors and representing a direct response to the scene or subject in front of the artist.
3.(of a painting) having the qualities of air and natural light.in air

alla prima defined

Wet-on-wet, or alla prima (Italian, meaning at first attempt), is a painting technique, used mostly in oil painting, in which layers of wet paint are applied to previously administered layers of wet paint.

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