Watercolor Plein Air Painting Tutorial Trees and Water

[@kathryndohring5481]

Absolutely LOVED this video. I really appreciate your honesty. I've been trying to Plein air paint and am just now realizing I don't like bugs and mosquitoes on me. Your painting is beautiful!! Thank you so much!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kelseywood1582]

Emily, you have given us viewers a bunch of useful tips on plein air painting, and watercolor painting in general. I loved this video. Great job!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bleuvertetforetdepin7308]

You really went full commando on that one, and you rocked it 😎!

[@christinetempleton7657]

Thanks. Very good info. I'm wondering though, as a woman, are you ever concerned about being outside concentrating on your painting and being accosted by unwelcome attention? Do you carry something to protect yourself?

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Not at all! I never feel unsafe, at least not where I live.

[@christinetempleton7657]

Thanks for your reply. I do carry pepper spray. Perhaps I'm not as trusting, I'm glad you feel safe enough not to.

[@lizbethy3214]

That's beautiful, such an interesting painting. If I was there painting I could guarantee that it wouldn't occur to me to paint the water and bank around the base of the trees, I'd take the larger picture wirh the sky and maybe some mountains in the background. ❤ I ❤❤❤❤ love your eye, its lovely.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thank you so much!

[@mmsaint4283]

Awesome❤❤❤❤

[@frances7885]

Loved this. Absolutely the most honest, spontaneous outdoor painting tutorial. Next time…bug repellent.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ your painting came out great too.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thanks so much 😊

[@karenhoward303]

We used to live in Parker, Colorado & then in Larkspur. We've moved to N. Carolina to be near our kids & grandchildren. I hope you have a live cameraman with you out there!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Hah I wish! Just me and my tripods. :) North Carolina is beautiful!

[@karenhoward303]

@@EmilyOlsonArt but wayyy buggier than Colorado!

[@karenhoward303]

Well if it was just you& your tripos, I hope it was fairly public. This old granny is worried about you

[@monica-NJ-123]

Thank you so much for all your tips to plein air , your painting turned out great 😊

[@nellkrams3698]

I love it!! It gives me an idea what to look for when painting outside….including the bugs! (Ugh!). Choosing where you want to paint, and leaving out the details….that’s going to be tough. I’ll have to just jump in and put on some brush miles while learning to paint outdoors. Thanks for a great video….and for taking us along with you. 17:03

[@melindaavila498]

At first glance it looks like a simple composition. . But, as you progressed, it clearly wasn't! Beautiful!

[@koolkutz7]

Cool plein air set-up Emily. Sounds like you were near a very busy highway! And like you, the biting insects always find me! Happy painting :-)

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Yes, there was construction going on nearby. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@goatman8692]

Well done!!

[@maureennecleirigh6002]

My time used to be limited so mostly my water colour painting and pastel was plein air (why not simply 'outside? I hate jargon)leaving studio time for my oil and acrylic. Nowadays I have plenty of time but limited concentration and and a shaky hand. Thank you Emily for helping to keep me painting in this lovely Island of Gozo post heart failure and stroke. Love this painting as have to paint water and preferably trees.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thanks for watching and for the nice comment, Maureenne!

[@alexandrasanches-fearsnomo3422]

Beautiful painting! Excellent tutorial! Big hug!🎉❤

[@deba417]

Another beautiful plein air painting. Thanks so much for explaining your process along the way.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

My pleasure!

[@stevesidare2493]

Amazing how your thoughts are similar to mine when doing these (my favorite) subjects. I started painting en plein air to "paint from life" in order to improve my painting from photos - a suggestion from Marylin Simandle - but now I do it to honor nature and just for the pleasure of being out in nature. And I have to use natural insect repellent out there!

[@zinabuchinin8119]

It’s always pleasure to watch your plain air painting

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thank you, Zina!

[@bharatartbox7457]

Hii Your art work is so beautiful keep it up god bless stay connected dear Amazing work

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thank you so much 😀

[@lucillevalentino4605]

That came out so nice.😊

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thank you! 😊

[@maryscunziano5392]

Emily this was so fun to watch!!! Thanks !!!

[@Attitudeofart]

Wow most most most most beautiful painting this is amazing fantastic painting

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thank you so much 😀

[@Attitudeofart]

@@EmilyOlsonArt welcome 😀

[@artonthecreek]

My dad was born in Lafayette & my granddad built their home & the one nextdoor on W Cannon St. Both homes are still standing. Right where you are-it used to be a farm. My dad’s furthest house on his paper route in the early 1930s☺️. This was a helpful (and very nostalgic) video for me-thank you. I have a feeling someday we’ll run into each other while on the ‘plein air trail.’ 😂 Love your work-your tips have given me a lot of insights. ❤️

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

What a lovely story, and so neat that you have a connection to this place! I certainly do hope we meet on the trail one of these days!

[@monicaj3023]

So fun watching and listing to your thought process! You're a brave girl for adventuring out. Thank you !!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@maryannegunter115]

This is very nice! I've learned that I have to spray on the OFF when I go outside to keep those pesky bugs off of me. Enjoy your channel!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Definitely bringing the repellent with me next time! 😀

[@barbarabrady1267]

absolutely beautiful painting, you made me chuckle a few times. be safe

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@DannySabraArt]

Bug spray is your friend! Great tip on studying the composition before you start. I’ve been trying to do thumbnail sketches to make sure my composition is decent. Also you’re absolutely right. Sometimes with plein air it turns out great and sometimes not. But the main thing is the process and enjoying and learning from observing nature.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thumbnail sketches -- yes!!

[@lewisartuk]

You again 🤣😁

[@DannySabraArt]

@@lewisartuk hahaha.

[@ArtistRebeccaLS]

Yup I agree! No one would be seeing me for the cloud of bug spray I’d have been using 😅

[@daleshawn1910]

Love this video. Your commentary while painting is great. I feel like I’m painting with you. Thank you for sharing.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Oh thank you!

[@char2556]

I love the Coal Creek Trail! I spend most of the summer in Summit County (where’s it much cooler) but I live in Boulder County the rest of the year. I’ve just restarted watercolor painting after a decades long break and have been trying to capture the feeling of running water along the Blue River. So far, it has eluded me. I’m having a great time, though. I ride a recumbent trike with my paint kit in a basket. I stop whenever the view inspires me and paint, seated, from my trike. Your suggestion to paint a much smaller section of what’s visible is very helpful! (So is the bug-spray recommendation.) If I ever see you out painting on one of the many trails, I’ll ding my bell, wave and keep riding so as not to interrupt you. Thank you so much for sharing your talent!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

So awesome! I'll be on the lookout for you. 😉

[@mamparoargentelacomba7347]

Hola , me encanta como pintas y aunque no entiendo el inglés y las traducciones son malas solo viendo como mezclas y como lo haces algo aprendo y es de agradecer. Felicidades. 😊

[@blakehughes9749]

Great painting exercise. I always struggle thinking going too dark will be too much. You handle this perfectly. Bravo. By the way, you looked nervous of your surroundings. Stay safe

[@sharonsunshine2532]

I thought she did also.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Hah hah, not nervous, just trying to avoid people lol.

[@terayahm6873]

Love the final painting. So interesting to watch your thought process.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thanks, Tera!

[@vickymassey1479]

Beware of standing water in August, bugs are hatching. Well done with all those distractions.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thank you, Vicky!

[@cassiesmith4826]

I love it. You should add some white and black dry brushing over the tree trunks to give it some bark detail. But this is absolutely beautiful!!!

[@Shuvah2Him]

Excellent! Thank you, Emily!

[@lindsayjayne2169]

I really enjoyed this, looks so peaceful there:)🌿

[@SG-dk9gn]

I love your watercolour paintings🖼😍! Your skill at composition, tonal value and atmospheric perspective is impressive! Thank you for sharing such valuable tutorials!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

I appreciate that very much!

[@SarahNewburyArt]

This turned out great Emily! 😊

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thanks, Sarah!

[@theamateurpoint8755]

Just gorgeous. 😍😊

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thank you! 😊

[@Zoewhiteart7676]

Love the painting!

[@karenhoward303]

Beautiful painting, I love your style.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thanks so much, Karen!

[@coastalart7894]

That is beautiful! Great job!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thank you! 😊

[@catseyes11]

Love it, thank you! I am going to try my hand at Plein Air when I get to Maine soon so I appreciate this immensely, came out awesome as usual : ).

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Have fun!

[@corespond1274]

First, excuse me if you don't understand. I'm French. Painting outside is difficult but it's a good way to improve. We went in beautiful place last month with the paint club. Nobody (but me) wanted to paint an outside subject. They all toke there reference photo. I asked why. They told me it way too difficult. Yes, it was but it's so much fun. Unfortunatly, it's a really rainy and cold summer so I don't paint outside.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

So sorry it's been rainy and cold! I'm totally a fair-weather painter, so I don't blame you for staying indoors!

[@bettysweet9644]

I worried you kept looking up it was a bear. You have taken us along with you to some beautiful places.

[@melissadare5039]

Great video and painting tips Emily! I am a beginner with Plein Air and advanced beginner with Watercolor so this was very helpful to me and I really enjoyed your upbeat and positive attitude! I was wondering if you had a backpack recommendation that would fit all the gear including the UGO? Thanks so much again!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thanks, Melissa! I've just been using an REI small daypack, but it's a bit tight (especially when I bring filming equipment), so I am upgrading soon! I'll do a video about that. :)

[@TradIrishHarper]

Do you predominately use the 6x8 pochade for most things? Wondering how big of a watercolor pad it will hold?

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Lately I’ve been using a lightweight handmade bamboo easel for my plein air excursions. This one (and my bamboo easel) can hold up to a 9x12” block.

[@nknana3]

I loved this! I so want to improve my plain air painting and with your tips on finding a small area (instead of trying to paint everything you see!) was a great tip. I know squinting helps while painting. I really learned a good bit while watching this video…now to put it into practice! I noticed your palette seemed to hold full pans of paints, not the half pans it shows on the Amazon site. Was this a special order? Or did you order full pans separately and purchase tube paints, too? Your painting came out beautiful!! Thank you for sharing this. I’ll be watching it several times before venturing out and trying it. (Am also going to wait till it’s much cooler…excessive heat wave here on the East coast!!). Love your landscapes…my favorite thing to paint ❤️

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thanks for your lovely comment! My pan set is actually just half pans, but you can certainly fill pans with tube paint if that's what you prefer!

[@JayNathanWatercolor]

Beautiful painting. You found a lovely spot to paint there. Do you prefer to paint standing while painting plein air?

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Yes, I prefer standing. It gives me a better vantage point.

[@rubycleaves8871]

This painting came out beautiful! I commend you for sticking it out with all those mosquitoes. Are you sure you’re not in Maine?

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

😆 I'm sure I was being overly dramatic. The bugs in Colorado are nothing like the Wisconsin bugs I grew up with!

[@mehrnazmoussavi]

Beautiful work! Do you wash your watercolor brushes with soap and water or just water?

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Just water. 🙂

[@scooterkev6978]

😁

[@muhmuhmoose3786]

Thanks so much for the tips and for sharing! I was wondering where you got your hat?? It is so cute!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thank you! I think it was $15 at TJ Maxx. 😆

[@mikel4510]

The links to Jackson and Utrecht aren't working. Looks like both sites have a problem with affiliate links.

[@leilasilva9831]

I love your videos but I would learn more if the subtitles were also in Portuguese. Success!

[@sharonsunshine2532]

I really enjoyed the demo BUT, next time wear bug spray. Lol I felt so bad for you .

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Hah hah, I learned my lesson!

[@kathryn2826]

Loved this tutorial, but I was so nervous for you the background sounds …..sounded like wild animals roaring …yips

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Thanks! No need to be nervous--it's a very urban trail, the roaring you heard was from cars. :)

[@TradIrishHarper]

Full disclosure I loathe biting flies