Painting a High Mountain Meadow with Watercolor ✿ Plein Air Art Vlog

Рет қаралды 2,473

11 ай бұрын

In this week's art vlog, I take you with me to see my great blue heron painting on display at an art exhibition, then explore Rocky Mountain National Park, where my friend Christine and I find the perfect painting location -- sort of.
THINGS MENTIONED/SHOWN
People:
-- Christine M. Torrez
-- All the artists and patrons at 3 Square Art Gallery
-- Morten E. Solberg
Places:
-- 3 Square Art Gallery, Fort Collins, Colorado
-- Upper Beaver Meadows in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
-- My art studio in Fort Collins, Colorado
Art Supplies:
- Robert Simmons #14 Sapphire Round
-- Robert Simmons 1/4 inch Sapphire Flat
- Arches 140lb cold press watercolor block, 9 x 12 inches
-- Mjello palette
-- En Plein Air Pro watercolor easel
- watercolor paints by Winsor Newton and Daniel Smith
Camera: iPhone SE
Microphone: Rode SmartLav+ Lavalier Microphone for Smartphones (Got it used -- and it works great!)
Anything else you'd like to see? Let me know! I'm trying to post something every week, usually on Wednesdays but sometimes Thursdays.
***
Laura G. Young
Bird & Nature Art
Fort Collins, Colorado
www.lauragyoung.com
Blog: lauragyoung.blogspot.com
Facebook: / laura.g.young
Twitter: @LauraGYoung
Instagram: @laura_g_young

Пікірлер: 24

@skyemathews8986 11 ай бұрын

howdy i just found you and so enjoy your art. i am turning 80 and use to be into art. oil mostly but due to my old age shak i have moved to watercolor. trying out different old age illness. the kids put me in a independent living place with a walker near Austin Texas. i am an ornery old goat and can lode the walker with my watercolors and paint. thank you

@LauraGYoung 11 ай бұрын

Howdy back at'cha! 🤠🎨 So glad to meet another watercolor convert -- I used to plein air exclusively in oils because WC is a tough challenge in our dry, windy climate. I haven't been to Austin yet, but I hear they've got a spectacular arts scene down there. And hang in there; I'm admittedly a few decades behind you, but already have been experiencing some physical challenges and so empathize very much! (My joke is that after 40, my body began to fall apart because I'd forgotten to pay for the extended warranty.) Bestest wishes for your creative journey, L.

@WildWoodlandsSW 11 ай бұрын

Really nice location in the Rockys,wonderful to see and feel the atmosphere. The hummingbird visit was stunning,suddenly appearing like that. And i love a good thunderstorm,so nice to see that at the end. The painting has richness and depth,great work. Well done ladies!

@LauraGYoung 11 ай бұрын

The hummer encounter truly was special. She (I'm fairy certain it was a she -- but it could've been a juvenile male) was really interested in what we were doing there -- perhaps it was the bright colors in our paintboxes? And the storms have been magnificent this year, due to the "El Nino" weather cycle. Hopefully we won't get rained out this week as we head back up.....

@WildWoodlandsSW 11 ай бұрын

@@LauraGYoung It probably saw the paintbox as you say,as they look like little flowers! I think when we sit quietly also,creatures dont feel threatened and are more curious than anything. So if one wants to experience the wildlife,instead of walking around looking for it,just finding a good spot and sitting quietly will probably be more productive. So your painting al fresco is perfect. Great to hear your heading back up again. Wishing you a good weather weekend,and another successful mission!

@apronhugsingreeenbay 11 ай бұрын

Just came upon your inspiring channel. No mountains like that in WI! Your beautiful Colorado surroundings just beg to be painted. Thanks for sharing.

@LauraGYoung 11 ай бұрын

Hello and welcome, ApronHugs! Yes, we are ridiculously spoiled here in the Rocky Mountain West. In some ways, it makes creating art more difficult -- it's all so beautiful, that anything I paint cannot do it justice! Thanks so much for joining me on my journey, L :)

@jaimejaime1178 11 ай бұрын

Hi Laura. -.ZeS.- (Jim) from Madrid, Spain (a fellow wildlife and nature artist, and a New Yorker expat living abroad). Great video and beautiful location up in the Rockies! Location and scenery where just breath taking. Colorado is one of my favourite states. Found you on KZfaq a few days ago and subscribed to your channel. Thank you for sharing! Cheers from Sunny Spain! 😁👍😎

@LauraGYoung 11 ай бұрын

Hello and welcome, Jim! Wow, that's so cool that you're living in España. (Spanish was the first language I tried to learn as a kid, and I've always meant to get better at it.) To think of all the art and museums you must have access to...! I've lived/worked abroad, myself, and think it's one of the most mind-expanding things a person can do. Thanks so very much for watching; I truly appreciate it. :)

@JoanneHastie 11 ай бұрын

Your video popped up in my KZfaq feed. I really enjoyed it. I started making plein air videos as well. Twice the work to document the process BUT I learn from myself rewatching it. as I got to the end of your video, I see you have a bird too!! I have a green cheek conure, 18 years old. 😊

@LauraGYoung 11 ай бұрын

Oooh, another plein air artist bird person! Can't wait to watch your videos (this week has been crazy hectic). Thanks so much for reaching out. :) :)

@jaclee6 4 ай бұрын

Really enjoyed watching you plein air paint. I have recently started painting watercolor outdoors in the parks, and found myself enjoying outdoor on location painting much more than I expected. However, it is definitely not easy with watercolor, but it helps me to keep it looser.

@LauraGYoung 3 ай бұрын

Welcome to the painting in the park club!! :) Yeah, watercolor plus outdoors can be a real challenge -- especially in a dry, high-altitude climate. You're right, though: it definitely re-trains the mind to work more quickly which (usually) makes for a freer, looser feel overall. Some of my most accomplished watercolor landscapes have been the ones that were 100% done on location -- and also some of my worst duds! With Colorado's crazy weather, it's always a gamble. You never know what you're gonna walk away with. Maybe that's the addictive nature of it. ;)

@lolitawildin6936 10 ай бұрын

Lovely painting👏

@LauraGYoung 9 ай бұрын

Thank-you so much! 😀

@WildWoodlandsSW 11 ай бұрын

Also you mentioned about your love of trees,and painting them. Im reading a book at the moment called The Hidden Life of Trees(Peter Wohlleben). Maybe it could be an inspiring read for you. It really is quite a fascinating world of how they communicate,protect and nourish each other. At one point he finds what he thinks are stones in a circle,but on investigating finds them to be petrified wood from an ancient tree stump. He scrapes a bit further and finds the 400 yr old giant stump is still alive,being nourished by the trees around it. Quite amazing.

@LauraGYoung 11 ай бұрын

Oooh, I think I've heard of that title! Thanks so much for the recommend; I'll be sure to look into it. P.S. I totally believe that anecdote about the ancient tree stump. We have aspen groves that are ancient clones, and if I remember correctly there's one enormous system in Utah, called, "Pando", that was at one time considered the world's largest living organism by weight.

@WildWoodlandsSW 11 ай бұрын

@@LauraGYoung Very welcome. And thats interesting about the aspen groves,nice to know.

@user-lu2tn3wo6m 4 ай бұрын

I loved it, Sandra from Australia

@LauraGYoung 3 ай бұрын

Thanks from Colorado, dear Sandra! I somehow overlooked your kind message a few weeks back. :)

@RandomActsofCartooning 7 ай бұрын

Great stuff! Are you wearing your camera? is it your phone or a go pro?

@LauraGYoung 7 ай бұрын

Thanks, @RandomActsofCartooning ! It’s all done with my iPhone. I hold it with my left hand while I paint with my right. The wide shots (when I remember to do them) are also done with the iPhone, but with either a little travel tripod or else an unsuspecting volunteer. :). I’ve been looking at GoPros, but so far I like the flexibility of just being able to use my phone. As they say, the best camera is the one that you happen to have on ya. ;)

@RandomActsofCartooning 7 ай бұрын

Well, you're doing nice job holding the phone while painting. It's not easy. My hand seems to wander off the image before too long. I just went to the tripod next to me. But I'm always interested to see if there are new "holders" of the phone. I've tried a few.

@LauraGYoung 7 ай бұрын

It's taken me a couple years to get better at using the phone-as-camera (used to make sooo many mistakes, especially with framing and not checking to make sure it's set to "record" argh!). I tend to keep my elbow tucked firmly into my side while I film myself painting, which seems to keep it steady enough. We've come such a long way from super-8 film and those bulky camcorders. It's a visual story-teller's dream come true!