A plein-air summer

I’ve been painting plein-air more than ever this summer; perhaps it’s my way of shaking off a winter pandemic-related fugue. For me, plein-air painting is all about just being out there, in the natural environment, free to investigate some quirky compositions without expectation. I choose shady spots more than fretting about subject. A little privacy is nice, however I’m happy when people take an interest too. Most summers see me filling a watercolour pad, however this year I’ve been creating in oil. There’s an ulterior motive for this: researching material for a new book! More about this in the near future. I’ve now amassed sufficient work for exhibition and planning a show at the Ottawa School of Art this October.

In a friend’s garden, France drew upon a yard ornament for inspiration:

A note for anyone mulling over giving sketching and painting plein-air a try or looking for a quick nudge: September is a wonderful month and the Fall colours are still to come too!!

Fall Courses

The Fall term is upon us! We’re looking forward to both in-person teaching at the Ottawa School of Art (downtown and Orléans) and equally, continuing on-line. Details and registration information are on our website at: https://www.breakabrush.com/workshops/

Starting this month

Wednesday 21 Sept: Expressive Colour –  via Zoom
Wednesdays, 09h30 – 11h30, 21/09/2022 – 19/10/2022 (5 Sessions)

Thursday 22 Sept: Expressive Portraits – Ottawa School of Art, 35 George Street
​Thursdays, 09h30 – 12h30, 22/09/2022 – 24/11/2022 (10 Sessions)

Thursday 22 Sept: Paint in Acrylic & Oil! – Ottawa School of Art, 35 George Street
Thursdays, 13h00 – 16h00, 22/09/2022 – 24/11/2022 (10 Sessions)

Wednesday 28 Sept: Acrylic practices webinar –  via Zoom
Wednesday, 13h00 – 14h30 Eastern (or via recording)

Ottawa School of Art Open Houses

The Ottawa School of Art’s Byward market and Orleans Campuses are hosting their Open Houses on Sept 11, 2022 at 11am -3:00pm: https://artottawa.ca/open-house/

Banana split: artists set for court battle over who first taped fruit to the wall

Here’s the latest example of a plagiarism dispute:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/aug/20/banana-taped-to-wall-artists-joe-morford-maurizio-cattelan-court-battle

There really is nothing new under the sun!

More on Yellow

Yellow is the most transparent – and lightest – of the primaries: pretty well all variants of bright yellow are fairly transparent. Painting yellow over almost anything else is invariably problematic, even thickly applied, with the result ending up dull and muddy. I usually add titanium white to my yellow, (or use yellow ochre/oxide – an opaque tone of yellow) and return when dry to achieve the effect I’m looking for.

Break-a-Brush!

David & France

“The best way to finish a painting is to start a new one.” Sylvio Gagnon