Painting outside riverside

a very special outdoor experience

Join seasoned guides and artist David Kinker for a trip of painting, Even beginners enjoy artist lead instruction, demos and the beautiful senery of the John Day and Deschutes River in spring. Small groups and lots of morning and evenings time to paint, trips are designed for painting.

PLEIN AIR  PAINTING/

RAFTING CONSIDERATIONS

NEW TO PLEIN AIR painting?

Plein air is to paint in the open air, in nature through observation, an interpretation is created catching pieces of emotion and painting process recorded.

Light changes so these paintings are limited to a window of time, they may be enhanced with a fresh eye in the studio later. Possibly?

 A lot of control has to be given up, simplifying subject and color are important elements. Plein air painting is a challenge to get out of your own way, letting go of the detail and grabbing the essential color and value relationship. 

All these considerations are made more clear by using a few visual theories on how we actually see. Demonstrations, lessons, personal instruction provided throughout the trip.

General to specific

Start with a sledge hammer and finish with a scalpel,

Many painters in Plein air are minimalist, using “gorilla style” palette and panel holder without an easel, held on laps or balanced on a rock,  these systems are light weight and fit into a pack.

On the other hand, we do have room for easels and medium sized systems like French easels or camera tripod systems.  I do suggest that easels have a bag or pack to keep small things from getting lost, organizing a system that is contained in a few packages.

I carry a small backpack that carries palette, paints, towels and brushes.

I have a bag that holds my easel, panel holder and a water container. (leatherman tool) Larger boards are hand carried, small panels can fit in the pack.

We will have an “art barge” for our painting gear which will be available for access at camps, photography or drawing during the day is a great option.

The art barge will have large boxes for storage, some things may be stored in dry bags, as needed.  Please keep your personal gear separate from your painting gear.

Having a pack or strapped art bag for short or longer explorations of this unique area is recommended.

I stand up, active in the painting process, some prefer to sit; a simple seat to carry may be of interest to some. (camp chairs are alway available )

MEDIUMS 

Pen and ink: light weight, 3 sizes of pen nibs suggested, can be easily colorized using water color

Pastel: a bit difficult to store during an expedition type trip, delicate.

Watercolors: light weight and relatively durable surface when dry. 

Acrylic: has the ability to be used as a watercolor and / or oil. Dries quickly and durable for trip storage.

Oil: because of drying time special boxes are required to transport wet paintings.

Acrylic is recommended, as they have many of the qualities of other mediums, is durable, most forgiving.

Oil painters are required to have all their own boxes for their specific sized panels.

SURFACES

Stretched canvas is not recommended as light comes through, and they are easily damaged.

Panels or canvas boards are a better option and take up less space.

A roll of wax paper suggested to cover the painted surface and then store the panels /boards together.

Sizes are generally on the smaller side for plein air: 

8x10, 11x14

My personal preference is to not use smaller brushes as I feel comfortable 

painting larger sizes using larger brushes.

12x16 is a common size for me.

 If I know I can spend some serious time I might go with as large as a 18x20ish.

I prefer a textured surface such as canvas, un-sanded gesso, transparent gesso leaves a soft tooth I really like.

MATERIAL LIST

Paint: 

Simply put,

 primaries,

 secondaries,

 black and white.

Or 

A warm and cool of each primary, black and white.

My baseline palette includes:

Yellow (cadmium or Hansa)

Cadmium Orange pure

Napthol crimson 

Quinacridone violet

Dioxine purple

Ultramarine blue

Pthalo blue

Brilliant green

Mars black

Titanium white

Twice as much white is typically used, so I like having an extra white.

I really like pthalo turquoise.

Yellow ocher and burnt sienna, are a few naturals that are perfect for landscapes.

Slow dry blending medium or gel - much better than retarder!

Perhaps satin varnish as extra protection for transport, though not necessary.

Additional Materials 

Brushes, personal choice - I like flats,  something like: 1/4”, 1/2”, 3/4”, 1” and a 1 1/2” . Also a liner.

Water container, Nalgene bottle works well and does not leak.

Paper towels

Palette, ( palette box)

Canvas holder / easel

Palette shade, a small folded translucent plastic sign board works well.

(photos for reference)

Possibly an umbrella, which I have personally given up on.

Clamp / leatherman can be very helpful tools.

Personal items :

Sunscreen / snacks (there will be some snacks available at camp)

Drinking water

Hat / sunglasses

Walking shoes

Bugs are rare

guided rafts, meals, all included, if you need outfitting for tents, sleeping bags, this can be arranged, if you need outfitting for plien air painting systems this can also be provided for an extra fee, ($ 150 includes, paint, brushes, easle, canvas boards, all in you will need)