I spent the past weekend in Whistler. Canadian Thanksgiving
and a beautiful place to spend it. Weather perfect.
My art plan for the weekend was to do a one-day acrylic demo in the White Dog
Studio Gallery and to do as much plein air as my wife would allow. So I decided to put my self to the test – of time. I often get the chance to do quick studies –
an hour or less – but usually feel that it is not worth the effort so I generally don't bother. So I decided that for the
weekend any plein air would be ONE HOUR
MAX – from set up to take down – oil or acrylic. A test of me and the efficiency of my setups.
Acrylic Demo White Dog Gallery Studio.
White Dog is a new gallery in Whistler and I am very pleased
to be represented there. It is full of energy and represents artists I am proud
to hang alongside.
I did two acrylic demos – total time 3 hours. I keep coming back to time taken because I
really want to push myself to improve my
efficiency. I can always add finishing
touches as required later.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5mkPcN5HIBkEaw42CKKu30lACohIDBYMFvuuYlRM_1HK4eQAuViff3e6G1nStibN61wyZmMPm8G50R9M_6BEAlSzeRnLU-DFDAbNFUqhKPcGbM6-s6fAGvcHJHAt9-jPz-IEibKMHFw/s320/DSC04570.JPG) |
Initial lay in 12x16 on acrylic primed linen |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLivKLoF3tm0d_ZWV8RJNVJf0Uj5dE6gKpYJv6D8I13lbtExIQjExgv_hHVTpMo9GpXbyfVTY05fZUS8jxkHSQ1LaF_Lo2gwL5_wyznqlNSG6x-1LNo8qhvKB5QUGBPGBlEqDzcCSzz0/s320/Blue+Peaks++Acrylic+12x16+2012.JPG) |
Got a bit carried away with colour - again |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOGsPPdfUCfbbq0HiPoMnuYCOLeUBgdNslU6ma9w4JRMgytI-6UFkw3e_sh9VYxhoGTIoJYP-ezmuXSugsrcjmeHGgzNup_WHSpu0z_h5uA7OCXcne4RFm5PFzeiNTzBRgf26w9Pl13lQ/s320/DSC04574.JPG) |
Second demo set up on Coulter Art Box Standard Size with StaWet palette on left holding heavy viscosity paint , glass palette in middle for mixing, Golden and Liquitex fluid acrylics on right |
Plein Air Sketchs
I painted three mornings and one midday.
Each morning I was at the site just after sun
up – about 7:30, the mornings were beautiful with no wind and a clear sky – but
COLD – from 3to 5 C. I “ suffer” from Raynauds Syndrome– a nuisance disorder
that causes me to not be able to use my hands in cold weather so I was worried –
but gloved up and it worked OK because there was no wind – another reason to push myself for time.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9UiNVewUxc7jo1trSLrn_RemjvES5h_9usQY5wsEH8YE6xaoGgKv9altUoh51Dzii6AYRsyERtn5z9MVgEMgjAsoNi1KjIBK5evXBOzFHtXZlLcrmEmEVyOIeLO1UKSCuds445zUzto/s320/DSC02919.JPG) |
Oil set up ; mid size Coulter Art box, 6x8 acrylic primed linen |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasfTesUkw-TxS_kyQKs8dhzqgiYClTv7NI5VSGroF_YOj4Ek8k7e5Gcz80Xt53RDArlU24GgEA9yQ-rpV881ph_orcbBSK4ouLJCg_FgukxcCUmfjZ6jH8uVOZOL53E5UnZNns8IbAH8/s320/DSC02920.JPG) |
Started with good intentions of a careful sketch |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcNXqb2IBZ1ftXwws3BjCQhwpGdg9wzlxKMrgzKPWQX1Yf33zbQt9zQYHekDDbPESHZa4vHZfAr-Ue-SVyJBNZhQhyuyXvFzQ0aEabWgVVTImAxRsZZ6b6m8Ywckj-J6It2rL1JvuKnE/s320/DSC02921.JPG) |
Cold got the best of me and I grabbed my palette knife and went wild |
Two Green Lake Mornings
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHYpCbxfoJAzCVioYodO0OWdXBtoNaRXxASDhwDDsTPON8McsjVEbcZfod7HBXVrVIV_nyhElWDGKqm4-od9bybVfCn8bGt7dmhlvWKkfkuUiJRHJrg4h4Zc0upEBvGFyx9y_-LwoK48/s320/DSC02974.JPG) |
First morning oil - WS |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynWvqpujh3kK6D0EgD4_U60esPH8z9o4nam_PmHATrrZVCPzoDijtSwkEiKVF11E26QixmM6TYI_vGLqUc-74ebL0dll9MUU-HpFANdKNHJLQrR0yR6i-tPI6_hGuminaVsh8Spb9CJY/s320/DSC02947.JPG) |
The hour went from almost dark to intense early light - a real challenge to hold onto |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScen0LkEc0vSWa_R6bOK2DAozaU8n3iqFmRmxKyMxQaeuR8ibHzoGQboaKvnigDsYvq5adBRqLTmv31OvHwYvZT60_57MjFtBakT_Xysewjk0F0tGHvelksvw2MthFgnFXeY2tb0wuRY/s320/Morning+on+Mountain+Oil+9x12+2012.JPG) |
Again grabbed the palette knife to finish up quickly |
Second day acrylics. Because it was COLD the acrylics were not drying to I started two and staggered them hoping that time would let them dry - but no luck. And I HATE working with acrylics that are not drying quickly as I am a layer painter. So the day was a challenge and the sketches showed it. Total time for the two was 1.5 hrs. I was so cold I could not have finished them on site.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Lt3FihkQ8sN5BmS8SxBzgHFIQ9dO7OImelRri2M4_REf3DjjCdhR6h0CiLsq1L5jSH1ISyRo9KSeyQ9zwN6PqBG8GcE3n9Y2hTS1u2kZNyuaxP787Gsj3rky61mKTlxH7LckfD1DKUw/s320/DSC02973.JPG) |
Quick outline using blue china marker on linen |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYboVNZwh-8XvAZWYGYa7GsoHDMvjZjA-m1XsCAhd-G4EZ1IqbrbBoslxk0t2A8XfrQUR8Q1gwuT9X1V2QEm42IyoKLz9wJg_0jifqdsLgESOwQTPAtnowBbuQUtyUtPyxJFkMhndT6gE/s320/DSC02975.JPG) |
Previous acrylic underpainting |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-K01qAdJ4uIKAD23rfO1x0yWVgO1KfeDi2vk-m1m_WVkYeEuvFwtg13gQAVd8VUCBSbDPBBku_nkVK2MfGKFq2Witvze8vhIfaGeOasTXtLLAQzzBkbWqGLYK6RVqVco1GYLFrp9Kaw/s320/DSC02978.JPG) |
Juggling two |
The mid day was in Whistler Village, my wife and daughter
wanted to continue to hit the stores and I had had enough so said they gave me
a hour to meet them back at the car. So by the time I got to the site – a beautiful
fall stream – I had only 40 minutes to setup, paint and clean up. Normally I
would not have bothered but I really
wanted to test myself again.
This one I really enjoyed. The mid day was warm and the site beautiful.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gBwiyYq9wZHITqEk21UGpWDqMAgo75swk_U7Xjt6L6h55gh916KwyRtUet5WwE1yM7Cj0ObYPfV8Q5oVcDw9kKhsou5XOV22MAGempLdhYmE2wQCNQHdhdD8mjDQ4dgvE1Q4563_6eo/s320/Autumn+Stream++Oil+8x10+2012.JPG) |
Oil on acrylic primed linen - bit of palette knife in the foreground 8x10 |
A great weekend and it was fun to push myself - product suffers but all a part of progressing. I am VERY happy with the Coulter Art Box systems for both the oil and acrylics - fast setup and easy to work with.