En Plein air simply means painting in the open air. It allows me to see colours that photographs can’t achieve. I am constantly surprised when I take a photo of a scene only to be disappointed by the outcome. The shadows are often a solid, flat black and lack the subtle colours I see reflecting while on location. With use of texture, colour and composition I to strive to tell a story and convey emotion.

 My medium is oil on canvas. I start by applying a loose wash of a transparent colour such as yellow iron oxide. This provides a warm, earthy neutral and creates colour harmony for the piece I am painting. Using the ala prima method, wet on wet, I start with thin darks using my brush to sketch and work out the composition, blocking in the big shapes. I finish with my lightest lights, using Liquin medium to create fat, juicy textures.