Streamlining Intricate Scenes Explained
In the heart of Queensland, Australia, nestled among dense rainforest, an artist embarked on a captivating plein air painting experience at Secrets on the Lake. The journey was not just about capturing the breathtaking beauty of the surroundings, but also about simplifying complex scenes to create compelling compositions.
Plein air painting offers a unique opportunity to document life in a personal and creative way, unlike photographs. However, dealing with a multitude of colours, shapes, lines, shadows, and highlights can be overwhelming. The artist found themselves in such a situation, facing a challenge to find a subject to paint.
Simplifying a complex scene is a great exercise in composition, helping you see like an artist. It's about narrowing down on the essence of the scene and cutting out the rest. The artist believed that this approach is key to creating strong, aesthetically pleasing compositions.
The artist found an interesting location on the balcony, overlooking the lake, mountains, repetition of tall tree trunks, and dappled light on the trees. However, the scene was still too complex to paint on location. To manage complexity, the artist cropped out much of the detail, focusing on the lake, mountains, and the repetition of tall tree trunks.
Using a viewfinder helped isolate promising sections and make strong editorial decisions about what to include or leave out. The artist also practiced flat color exercises and balanced shapes, values, and color unities, which strengthened the painting’s structure and reduced overwhelm.
The artist started blocking in some of the basic color shapes by the time the fog cleared. A photo of the blank canvas before the artist started painting is included, with the scene just after sunrise and foggy. The cropped version still captured the lake, mountains, repetition of tall tree trunks, and dappled light on the trees.
As the day progressed, the artist had to work quickly due to the constantly changing light. Towards the end of the painting, the artist needed to start working from memory because the shadows and colors had changed significantly. The quick-studies done on location are not meant to capture a finely rendered version of what you are seeing; they are meant to capture the basics.
These quick-studies can be used along with photos to create a more detailed version back in the studio. The author used the trip to test new plein air painting equipment, further enhancing the experience. The end result is a rough study, serving as a beautiful way to remember the trip.
In conclusion, to simplify complex landscape scenes for plein air painting, focus on reducing visual noise by identifying average colours or values for major forms, selecting a clear focal point through contrast or colour intensity, and simplifying shapes by omitting unnecessary details to emphasize composition and harmony. Practicing these techniques helps plein air painters manage complexity outdoors, produce strong visual focus, and maintain energy and freshness in their landscapes.
[1] Artist's Website [2] Plein Air Painting Guide [3] Art Techniques Blog [4] Plein Air Painting Magazine
- The artist found that plein air painting was a great way to document their lifestyle and personal experiences, converting complex landscape scenes into home-and-garden-worthy landscape paintings.
- Simplifying plein air painting scenes by focusing on key elements like the lake, mountains, and repetition of tall tree trunks can result in remarkable home-and-garden art pieces, offering a unique perspective on the surrounding environment.
