Learning to Paint Plein Air? Watch this First!

[@emiliabugueiromeyer8166]

The way artists observe the world/their environment is so poetic

[@artprof]

You're right, it really can be :) Thank you so much for watching! - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@lisah336]

It's brave for a high caliber professional artist to publicly learn a new medium.

[@cchemmes-seeseeart3948]

Totally valuable video. I most appreciated the examples of simplifying scenes, & why you do not want to try to paint everything you see.... & discussion of this & examples. I could use a whole expanded video just on this one point & landscape compositions. I liked the simplified examples shown. I feel challenged to try this. I am feeling the same- that sumi brushes seem they would be a great solution. I bought a membership to a local garden, so I going to give this a try.

[@artprof]

We're so glad this video resonated with you!! Good luck with creating-- I find plein air work to be absolutely delightful, I hope you love it :) - Mia, Art Prof Staff

[@monkeybearmax]

cannot believe the quality of your videos! I love how you describe your travels as you explain your painting process. So Iglad I found y'all!

[@artprof]

Thank you so much! We are so excited you like our videos :) - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@cafecito25]

I just found you and I really like and appreciate your teaching! I'm a beginner at age 61 finally doing and learning what I really love,Art. It took me a lifetime to get here, but I've found my Mojo 😄. I will be following your teaching vlogs. Very helpful, thank you💕

[@artprof]

That's fantastic!! We're so glad you found us, and are pursuing what you love. That's truly amazing, and we'll be along for the ride! Thank you so much for watching :) - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@AmandaJaneArt]

Thank you so much for sharing your process. I very much enjoyed seeing you paint the one scene multiple times. Learning and redoing instead of just giving up.

[@artprof]

I think it's really important for people to see the learning process, warts and all! -Prof Lieu

[@christinebarone2151]

I learned so much from this video. Much appreciated.

[@artprof]

Glad it was helpful! -Lauryn, Art Prof Teaching Artist

[@paulalovesart4545]

I enjoyed hearing about these processes and how to troubleshoot different things. I love the videography, and seeing the kids enjoying different spots in the landscape. What a joy! It takes me back to when I was a kid around fun rocks and nature areas. Finalizing everything with the watermelon stand and propane tank was so fun. Great ideas and tips, thank you so much. Paula

[@artprof]

Glad you enjoyed it, and hope it's helpful for your own plein air work! -Lauryn, Art Prof Teaching Artist

[@vanitasverdad]

I had searched for this video a while back, I thought I missed the release. So happy it is up! I really like the travel videos.

[@artprof]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@artgeometrix6346]

I really like this. The level of detail here is perfect. Gives the artwork a sense of being a distant dreamy vision

[@gethulked101]

I love watercolors. I think they never cease to challenge you as an artist.

[@jasonfml1]

This is such high quality content, I love it. Your story telling around Utah really contextualise your art. Thank you so much.

[@artprof]

Glad you enjoyed it! More to come, this is just part 1. -Prof Lieu

[@ChristinaTodd1970]

I’ve been waiting for this for over 6 months! I can’t wait!

[@keniamaya-schmidt890]

I live in a small town in utah as well, and its funny to see other peoples reactions to their first time they visit something other than salt lake. Ive been dying to get out of utah but the way you described this sleepy town kinda made me appreciate it hahaha

[@artprof]

That's so cool that you're from Utah and are seeing your town from an outsider's point of view! -Prof Lieu

[@yellowhatarts1738]

Omg I loved this video! I love how much you can learn about other people's experience. My mind was blown when Clara said that landscapes are abstract forms and that you cannot expect to draw every single thing you see, that's exactly what happens to me!! I'm feeling so inspired right now to just do something out of my comfort zone, can't wait for part 2!! ✨

[@artprof]

Glad you enjoyed it, I'm already hard at work on part 2! -Prof Lieu

[@jesshebertsonart]

Hey, I go to college for art in southern utah! So cool to see my some familiar sights :) if you're ever near ephraim or manti you should come visit granary arts

[@artprof]

So cool!

[@강-n6c]

I'm currently using watercolors and will have to paint a landscape, very useful tips. Thank you

[@artprof]

Glad it was helpful!

[@artprof]

Prof Lieu's original artworks are available! www.etsy.com/shop/artprofclara

[@violetsky5357]

This inspires me to try watercolors again! So fun to see you out and about painting- hope to see more of these ☺️

[@artprof]

You should! Although I struggled with watercolor for so long, I did find it satisfying to pick up again. -Prof Lieu

[@angieschaffer8233]

It’s fun that we both moved out west at the same time. I’m in San Antonio now and cannot wait to get out and paint and draw around the city. I live right next to woods, and when it gets cooler out, I’m going to get out and paint all the cacti and the Alamo.

[@jessicastraus4491]

Clara, this is fantastic! Loved the travelogue intro! Great to see a fellow New Englander tackling new territory--both the geography and the artistic medium! Glad it made it out there ok--you look content!

[@artprof]

Thanks so much Jessica! The funny thing is most of this video was shot last August, but I filled in the blanks with some footage over the past week since we are in Mt Pleasant until we settle in SLC. -Prof Lieu

[@loveleeluv7]

Hi Clara 😊, I've just found your channel and now I'm kicking myself why just now (or the KZbin algorythm despite watching watercolour videos for year now😂 ). I'd just like to say that I like your version of "atmospheric" better. I can feel the UTAH heat from it even if I've never been to UTAH. Caspar's atmosphere feels cold, on the other hand. But that's just my self-taught opinion😁. Love the colors you picked!

[@artprof]

We're so glad you liked the video!! I love Clara's use of color too :) - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@edzejandehaan9265]

Relatable; the moment I think "hm,I miiiight be able to stop now" I have to stop RIGHT AWAY, disaster is just round the bend! Yeah, funny medium, watercolor, I like how it kinda forces one to be spontaneous and loose. I always had the "loose oneself in detail" problem while drawing, having started in watercolor helps to fix that, it really punishes you for it.... Agree about the sumi brushes, they are great, I have just one, and I love it, will surely buy some more (haven't found them here, an d I like to touch tools before I buy them...) As for colors, I personally prefer to use a rather limited palette, I am not that experienced in color mediums, and using not to many colors helps keeping things harmonious (but of course I have a little list of colors I'd like to add...)

[@artprof]

Watercolor can really be unforgiving sometimes, we agree! If you liked this video, you might also enjoy this one about deciding when a piece is finished: kzbin.info/www/bejne/noqteHSYbKaDrdU Thank you so much for watching! - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@maryxxbella9585]

Love this! You should totally do watercolor/alcohol based markers more often. Both are so lovely and gestural. truly satisfying and inspiring to watch.

[@artprof]

Thank you so much 😀 More to come btw, this is just part 1 of this tutorial! -Prof Lieu

[@AngelG0Rawr]

I was waiting for more watercolor videos! Also, she read that shake for filth! :O

[@FernelliPearl]

Clara pulling out all the stops with Arches, I saw the design! Bouge out haaay

[@kace313]

im from a town really close to green river so it was really funny to see you so confused by the melon themes

[@artprof]

Hahahaha that's hilarious! -Prof Lieu

[@maegancollins9249]

this video was very helpful and inspiring! im in awe of your plein air artwork and strive to have a similar style

[@artprof]

Thanks! You might also like our other plein air videos: Brush Pen Drawing in Taiwan: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3PHiGCVlN98gbM and Drawing in Guangzhou, China: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpnZlXx5qL1krZI -Prof Lieu

[@JackFate518]

That was a great video. I hope you do more in this style, please!

[@artprof]

More to come! This is just part 1 of this Utah tutorial. -Prof Lieu

[@priyadarshini996]

This is really good. Thank you so much for posting this!

[@artprof]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Slepnir123]

I enjoyed the video, but I did wonder if you used the alcohol marker to address your watercolor fear? I think it is a good strategy to use. Use something your comfortable (the alcohol marker) with the uncomfortable one (watercolor). I think it would of been a nightmare if you had tried to medium say like water and gouache. The awkwardness of both would have been overwhelming. I have gotten watercolor and gouache, but have yet to try them. Your approach may of using something you are comfortable with and something you not could give a stepping stone into media I am not confidant in.

[@artprof]

Absolutely, the markers were my safety net that let me get over my fear of the watercolor. I didn't get to it in this part of the tutorial, but the final painting that I do in this tutorial is 100% watercolor, it took me that long to make the leap! -Prof Lieu

[@nikkia9506]

Such a different film from you. I loved it. I did find myself wondering how fast water evaporates from your paint once it's mixed in that kind of heat, though.

[@artprof]

Yes, it's so dry in Utah that you really don't have to wait long for your paintings to dry! -Prof Lieu

[@sarahz.9852]

i'm so happy to find this channel i learned a lot i'm a subscriber since 2 months and love ur videos a looot

[@artprof]

Glad you found us!! -Prof Lieu

[@margue_rite]

hi ! i was wondering what sketchbook you were using... id like to get a watercolor/ mixed media sketchbook and yours seems perfect !

[@nikkia9506]

She painted the rocks on an Arches cold pressed block (expensive stuff - no wonder she was careful!) I don't think I even thought of looking what the sketchbook was. Sorry. Hopefully someone else was more on the ball.

[@artprof]

It's a Strathmore sketchbook with watercolor paper, I have a supply list with images and links here on our main site: artprof.org/courses/watercolor-painting-brush-pen-drawing-in-utah/ -Prof Lieu

[@biyankapatel99]

I liked the video, and how you explained things..... but I’m sorry, I kept getting distracted by the shedding of the brush.....

[@artprof]

I get distracted by that sort of thing too! Art supplies can be so unpredictable sometimes - Mia Rozear, Art Prof Staff

[@HIHI10091]

"it's been 84 years"

[@gosiaplummer4794]

Did your marker got destroyed from watercolor paper?

[@artprof]

The markers are surprisingly resilient, and they're pretty juicy unless you really use them a ton! -Prof Lieu

[@gosiaplummer4794]

Art Prof: Create & Critique thank you!

[@ChristinaTodd1970]

Aghhhh! Clara, I respectfully disagree with you. I don’t think you need to be less precise with mixing and colors are very important!! I rarely paint with more than 5-6 colors in a painting so choosing my colors wisely is important. I want to be able to mix what I need with the colors I choose. I love having all the colors but I don’t use them all in a painting. For me, color mixing in watercolor has more intent than oils, simply because EVERY STROKE is important. The transparency and immediacy of watercolor leaves less wiggle room than oils, gouache, and acrylic because of it’s transparency. If I make a mistake in the latter 3 I can simply paint over it. If I make a mistake in watercolor I either have to embrace it (happy accident) or work around it, but I can’t paint over it and make it go away. Everyone paints different, I agree, so no judgement, I just wanted to throw in my 2¢.

[@artprof]

Thanks for sharing your approach, I always love hearing how other people are different in terms of how they handle the media. -Prof Lieu

[@sarahblam]

Christina, I have a similar approach too! I am very much a beginner, but I am finding I have to plan what 4-6 colours I use and the mixes otherwise I might end up losing harmony or with a glaring & unnatural colour in my scene. There are SO many lovely colours though :D As Prof Lieu mentions, having scrap paper to test on goes a long way to help.