Colorado Artist Laura Reilly - Outdoor Painting Season 2016

I am enjoying this summer's open air painting immensely

 - painting en plein air, setting the landscape free. 

We hear so much about artists trying to "capture" a scene or landscape

 -  paintings in bondage, what a concept.

I dont' want to capture the landscape, I want to liberate it!

Here are some of this year's plein air paintings.  

I'm looking forward to painting a lot more during outdoor painting season,

and using some of these as studies for larger pieces in the studio.

"Eloquent" - original acrylic painting, 6" x 12", Purchase info

Painted at Lake San Isabel, Colorado.  While I painted, the biggest

bumblebee I've ever seen - 2" long -

 buzzed around in a patch of yellow wildflowers next to me.

"Fireweed" - original acrylic painting, 4" x 12", Purchase info

Painted at Rock Ledge Ranch. It's been mentioned that it's a little early for fireweed, 

and could these in fact be phlox?

Too funny, but probably true, lol!  Lesson learned,  can't always identify from google pics!

"Shadowplay" - original acrylic painting, 10" x 8", Purchase info

Painted in my garden here at home. 

A recurring theme for me, sunlight and deep shadows.

Irises have been spectacular this year!

"Victorian Lilacs" - original acrylic painting, 8" x 8". Sold

 I painted this at Acacia Park, here in Colorado Springs, while the lilacs were at their peak. 

While I painted, the warming sun  brought out the scent of the lilacs.

"White Crabapple in Bloom" original acryic painting, 8" x 8". Purchase info

The first plein air painting of the season, this was painted across the street from

BonTon's Cafe, right here in Colorado Springs.

There's nothing like painting out in the open - there's a feeling of life that infuses the paintings, and the painter too!  and - painting outdoors makes me a better studio painter.

If you want to see these as they are painted, 

check out my Facebook Page, and look for my Today's Painting posts.  

I'm looking forward to sharing more of these gems with you this summer!

Today's Painting Collection

Contact Laura - or leave you comments below!  

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I Tried Something New and It Didn't Kill Me

Plein air painting, "Creekside Music" - acrylic original on gessoed panel, 7" x 10" 

Plein air painting, "Suzanne's Garden" - acrylic original on gessoed panel, 6" x 11"

"Autumn on Chalk Creek" - acrylic original on canvas, 40" x 30" x 1.5"

I love the title of this blog post!  Credit to our friends Ken and Wendy, who came up with this one re a B52's concert on the lawn at Denver Botanic Gardens.

My niece Jamie came for a visit this summer, and she wanted to paint, so we got some acrylics and got to playing around.  Now, I haven't painted with acrylics since I was 20, which was a little while ago . . . and I didn't like them much then.  Things have changed!

Low and behold, I gave them a try, and I loved them!  The acrylics feel a little different to me than oils, the colors look and mix a little differently, and the "action" of the paint on the canvas is different.

I am especially enjoying them for plein air painting.  The speed of the drying time, which a lot of artists think is a huge disadvantage, really suits me for painting on location.  I can build up paint layers quickly, paint negative shapes and overpaint and highlight quickly.  Cleanup  is easy, and by the time I have my simple painting materials packed, the acrylic study is dry and easy to transport.

I've been doing a lot of experiments with the acrylics, and a lot of research.  Like oils, there is great variation between manufacturers in paint body, lustre, pigments, drying time, mediums, etc . . . very satisfying for my need to understand all aspects of the chemistry and archival qualities of the materials I use to create my art.

This  foray into acrylics has opened up possibilities and potential, and enhanced my painting journey.  I think I like it - thanks Jamie!