Plein Air Artist Extraordinaire!
At the Guild’s January 25 meeting, members were treated to plein air artist Julia Munger Seelos’ talent as she directed us step-by-step in creating a beautiful oil painting from a reference photo in just 1.5 hours! It is quite apparent Julia has her process down to a science and was very comfortable creating for us and answering questions. Than you, Julia, for a art-inspired afternoon!
Painting in oils on a canvas panel that had been given a pale orange wash, Julia identified her major shapes with a pale purple wash consisting of ultramarine and cad yellow (Photo 1). She then laid in her darkest darks (Photo 2). Her eucalyptus trees began to shape up by adding medium highlights (Photo 3). She then worked in the background hills, foreground and path, tree shadows, adding clouds, and cutting in the sky (Photo 4). Still keeping her painting loose, Julia made final touches in softening the trees and adding additional highlights where needed, sky holes, et al. Her finished painting (Photo 5).
