Gary Millard "Plein Air" Oil Paint Demo pictures & notes

Gary did an excellent job of showing how he plein air paints in oils. He answered questions and was entertaining too!

See more of his art on his website https://artistryofnature.com/

In the first hour he blocks in the main shapes with paint thinned with odorless mineral spirits. Normally he uses regular mineral spirits. 

He worked top to down, or farthest to nearest.
He reminded us that all 4 corners should be different, don't run down to a corner - make it bigger. Also distant is lighter/less vivid, more pastel/purplish, nearer is darker. Don't put horizon in center. No straight shore lines.

Brushes used on 16 x 20 panel
flat
hog bristle
liner for fine lines
hake- swirl in circles to make clouds
Menard 2" house paint brush for blocking in

He stands when he paints so he can walk back to look at his painting from a distance.

Gary was very informative and had lots of entertaining stories to tell about plein air painting.

Color palette:
2 each: yellow, orange, red, green
4 blues
white
thalo turquoise, cobalt turquoise
naples yellow light - to put in sunny highlights last 5' of painting
burnt sienna, yellow ochre. paynes gray, van dyke brown
diazazine purple
sap green, chromium green

Clouds are regular at top and non descriptive (go away at the bottom) Layer clouds.

Darks: purple/ultramarine blue
lights: cerulean/white

 He generally uses long brushes out in the field and short brushes in the studio

If line not right just paint another line next to it of the area next to the line to fix the line.

Mahl stick used to steady his hand

 Contrast dark trees against light sky. liner brush for fine lines. While paint wet knock out some tree lines. Then add more lines on top.
Up and down strokes mimic grass.
Overlap items in picture to prevent cut-out appearance.
Squint to see values and correct things.
Splashes of color. He likes blue

 Plein air painting used as a guide for this one. The barn was actually behind Gary in the original location.
Generally 2-2.5 hours to plein air paint a painting before light changes.

Plein air painting is supposed to be fun.

 Naples yellow light added last to indicate sunlight

 Here's how it might look in a frame.

In the past he used walnut oil for gloss. Generally can varnish after painting cures for 5-6 months. Immediately after painting you can spray Krylon workable fixative.

The finished painting.
(You can use the end of a sharpened toothbrush to sign in a wet area.)

Gary with the lucky winner of his painting.