This post is about an experiment in trying to simplify a scene i was planning to paint on an outdoor outing. A friend and i found a lovely spot to try to paint, but the scene was really quite complex. Here’s the reference. Part of what i was drawn to was the way the sun shined on the grasses on the opposite side of the stream.
I wanted to create a composition that would capture some of the most striking features of the scene but without all the complexity. It’s not quite finished — needs more work in several areas, but thought i’d go ahead and post, as you can figure out the main points. the reason i thought this was worth discussing is because when you paint en plein air, unless you are just focused on painting a single building or one big tree, you are faced with a huge number of possibilities for composition, and you have to narrow the choices. And you have to make these decisions quickly, because minute by minute the light is changing, and so the composition you thought you were going to do is no longer the same.
LJ and NJ 
Never thought about the speed at which the scene changes as the light source moves. I can see the problem, and realize I probably never thought about it because I never worked out where the problem actually existed. That said, obviously you and Bern are braver souls than I. Guess I’ll stick to painting rocks and leave the landscapes to you guys. Hugs,m
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