June 14, 2025
In the Field
Today's plein air spot was chosen for....*drum roll*.. convenience. After volunteering in South Seattle, I thought it'd be a good opportunity to explore that part of town since I rarely find myself there. I've lived in Seattle for nearly nine years, and I still have never been to Seward Park, so that became an easy choice to set up a little picnic and paint.
I chose a random parking lot on Google Maps and settled on a grassy spot by the water. Directly across the water was Mercer Island, which I had zero interest in, so I painted this log while entertained by bald eagles and blue herons.
The Painting
Last week's paintings also featured views of Lake Washington from another park. I wanted to mix up the subject a bit, so instead of focusing out across the water, I focused on a closer subject, landing on this log.
The challenge of this painting was to make it not look like a floating turd, which it did for at least 90% of the time I painted it. The remaining 10% is also up for debate.
Overall, I'm satisfied. I finished this in 3 hours, not including the break for wine and cheese. The detailing in the grass and the shadow of the log came out nicely. The texture of the log is still something I'm unsure about. The composition is also a bit simple, but I do think it'll look nice hung along with other landscapes.
The Birds
While painting, we were treated to some impressive bird sightings. A mature bald eagle and a juvenile perched in the tree above us. We even saw the juvenile attempt (and fail) to catch some fish.
In contrast, there was this blue heron fishing in front of us that caught a few fish like it was nothing.
The Setup Evolves
Last week, I hauled everything in a large, reusable bag from Costco. Not only was it super uncomfortable, but by the end of that Sunday, I realized I had lost my keys. The weekend after, I realized I was missing some brushes. I quickly prioritized a better way to haul all of my gear, landing on this cart I ordered from Amazon. It's lightweight, can be carried or rolled (with 360 wheels!), folds down to a small, storable size, and can be sat on or used as a surface. After one use, I'm impressed and pleased.
After sitting in the direct, hot sun for most of the previous week's plein air workshop, I splurged on an umbrella that'd be more practical for painting (and it seems to be a favorite amongst more seasoned plein air painters). That long, black case in the photo above is my new Guerrilla Shadebuddy. I didn't have to use it this time, but I can verify it was not difficult to carry for the few minutes it took me to get from my car to the painting spot.
This week also included wine and cheese. I highly recommend.
Fin.
