Our enthusiastic and inspiring tutor Terry Jarvis is a great fan of painting en plein air or, as he would put it in his no-nonsense Australian, the great outdoors. But when faced with a hundred things you could paint, how do you choose?
First of all, think of yourself and the paper you’ll be working on! Terry says: “Always try and find a spot to paint from where you can be comfortable but have constant shade on your painting. There’s nothing worse than dappled light or bright sunlight while you are trying to construct a great image.”
Don’t forget that as well as recording a scene, your picture should also tell a story, capturing the emotion you feel and relaying it to the viewer. And the best scene may not be in front of your nose! Terry says: “Look behind you as well as in front and to the sides, there could be just the scene you are looking for!” Also, look for where the light is coming from and decide whether painting into the light or back-lighting or side-lighting is best for portraying the story you want to tell.
A few other practical considerations when homing-in on your subject:
- Don’t shut the viewer out! Terry says: “You’ve got to allow people visually to ‘walk in and through’ your painting. So, never put a fence or a gate or some other obstacle in front to block them.”
- Leave out those unnecessary things that might challenge the atmosphere and the mood you are looking for. Ask yourself “What do I need to change in the image before me, like take out a lamp post or add a lamp post.”
- Strong verticals in your painting (such as a tree, a lamp post, a mast on a boat) will bind together a lot of horizontal lines.
- Simpler and larger shapes help add impact.
- Strong contrasting tonal differences with sharper edged areas will give strength to a painting.
Terry says: “The most wonderful painting opportunities are in the great outdoors, out there just waiting for you!”
Terry will be with us again this year at The Watermill, so come and enjoy the fresh air of rural Tuscany with him and capture it with your brush.
Terry Jarvis is one of Australia’s leading watercolour artists. The son of a goldminer, he was inspired at an early age to draw and paint the landscape, as well as people and animals. Terry also works in oils, pastels and acrylics and is happy to teach in those mediums too. He loves drawing and helping his students to develop their drawing skills.
Here’s what one guest on Terry’s Watermill course this year had to say: “I wanted to thank you for a most wonderful stay at The Watermill. Your treatment of us was terrific. Six stars doesn’t come close! I enjoyed every minute. Terry’s course was great. He is an excellent teacher – very encouraging and knows how to bring out the best in his students. He has a great personality.”
Another said: “Terry Jarvis was superb with people, very positive and very relaxed. I’ve been on painting holidays before and learned nothing but Terry was great. When you got stuck he’d come along with a smile – and a brush – and bring your picture to life. He wasn’t afraid to criticise your work, but he had a really positive attitude, which helped you to improve.”
Terry Jarvis
Watercolours (and oils, pastels and acrylics)
To learn more about Terry and his course at The Watermill, please click here.
Come and join us and enjoy a six-star, sun-filled, fun-filled, inspiring week!
Terry’s lovely watercolour of market day in nearby Fivizzano, where we go on location during our painting week