Defying My Comfort Zone: A Plein Air Class with David Kearn

In this journal page I have used magazine fragments of drawings and paintings including one of Vincent Van Gogh's drawings in the top centre and right side of the page.

After months of collaging, I decided to try my hand at something new.  I love to add bits of imagery from drawings and paintings to my collages; sometimes I wish as well as adding those of others’ works, I’d like to add some of my own – so when fellow Shabooya* artist, David Kearn announced he was giving plein air painting classes this summer, I found it serendipitous.  I vowed no matter how busy I was, to fit in at least one class with him.  I have little to no experience open-air sketching or painting and was a bit leery of having onlookers gawking at my (probably horrendous!) work in progress.  Even so, I put these insecurities aside and signed up for a class.

David Kearn (far centre) and students, August 2011

There’s much preparation involved in plein air painting… besides paints, easel and tools, one needs a light portable chair, mosquito repellent, sun screen, plastic bags (for waste and make-shift rain gear), water and a hat (which I hate to wear!) among other things.  Saddled up with my gear and my husband’s silly straw hat, I was ready to go!  Our location, the beautiful Experimental Farm, is a spectacular place filled with flower, vegetable and rock gardens; an oriental-inspired pond; a dizzying array of trees and shrubs as well as farm animals and quaint buildings.  Upon arrival David and his wife France, familiarized us with the surroundings; David gave us newbies a brief recap of the basics of plein air painting; a demo about creating the perfect greens for our paintings as well as a glimpse of his paintings from the previous location, Lac Leamy.  Then we were off to find our own little secret spot of inspiration.  It took me nearly half an hour to find mine: a dramatic cluster of three magnificent pine trees.  I didn’t know if this was the best subject matter – but it certainly was fit for a drama queen!  I spent two hours sketching timid studies of the trees and decided to tackle a value study David recommended we do which involved defining the highlight, mid-tones and shadows of our subject matter… well, I did it in my own dyslexic way with a small bit of charcoal and kneaded eraser which David scavenged for me from his painting box (I brought everything but the kitchen sink and forgot those!).  I never got to the painting part or proper value study, but did manage to take some photos to inspire me later.

Two views of my dramatic pine trees at the Experimental Farm, Ottawa, August 2011

It was exhilarating to be outside trying to capture some semblance of the pines.  Not an exact replica of them, I think my last study still managed to harness a bit of their drama.  On his visits to check my progress, David’s gentle demeanour and expert eye led me to discover the beauty of the dark and light shadows underneath the trees — which I could try to capitalize on in future studies… I was delighted by David’s vision of them where they became a giant sacred canopy of sorts; their long heavy branches leaning downwards casting a brilliant stained-glass effect of light and shadow on the grassy carpet beneath.  As I sketched to the very last minute of class, I forgot about beating off the ants crawling up my left foot; the flies buzzing around my shoulder and the hot summer sun (thank God for the hat & water!)… I became engrossed in rendering the trees.  Time sped by; a feeling of peace enveloped me.  Upon leaving, I surveyed the paintings of the other students and marvelled at the way they’d transformed gorgeous beds of flowers into brilliant tapestries and quilt-like blocks of colour.  I got the sense that plein air was not necessarily about rendering nature in all its detail, but more like revealing its essence… as a person caught up in detail, that was an eye-opener. 

My charcoal study of the pines, August 2011

What a productive day!  I felt a teeny bit like an Impressionist, too!  I had renewed respect for what my friend Elaine Coombs (the “Tree Whisperer”) does!  I definitely want to take more classes next summer.  If you’re from the city or visiting, taking a plein air class is a great way to really get to know the beauty of our many parks here in Ottawa.  I highly recommend dropping in on one or more of David Kearn’s classes.  He’s an excellent instructor and teaches figurative work, too; his prices are very reasonable.  As for the gawking onlookers – no one bothered me; not even the tourists!  They were all amazingly polite making sure not to block my view of the pines – such courtesy was a pleasant surprise! (If they only knew the mess I was scribbling down!)  Have you gone out of your comfort zone to try something new?  What did it teach you? – I’d love to know!

* My “Shabooya colleagues”… are a group of artists from the city I met while taking an Artist-Educator Course with the Royal Conservatory (of Toronto).  Every day of the course we’d start off with this chant with the word “Shabooya” in it, hence our name.