PLEIN AIR PALETTE KNIFE PAINTING BY TOM BROWN

"LIVING IN THE MOMENT"
5x7 inch original plein air
oil painting by Tom Brown

Unexpected sensory delights are among the many pleasures of plein air painting. Parrots nested in nearby treetops, the sun warmed my shoulders and I watched in fascination as a large gray wolf casually sauntered by on a leash.

I created this painting as a demonstration during a workshop this past weekend. Using a palette knife to paint this forced me to simplify the amount of detail, which helps create stronger compositions. Color relationships were another important focus of the lesson.

For example we carefully observed whether one tree was a warmer green or cooler green than the next. Is it lighter or darker in value? Is the hue more pure or more grayed than the other?

Answers to these questions lead to stronger paintings because we base our work directly on nature. Sensory delights like sunshine, fresh air and parrots are simply icing on the cake.

To watch my free video of a palette knife painting click the type above this image. To purchase this painting email tombrownstudio@cox.net.

Thanks for looking.
- - Tom Brown