Sketching in the Rain
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The weather didn´t give a signal of improving and my desire of painting outdoors was increasing at each rainy day. I decided to take the risk and despite the threatening heavy clouds in the sky, I went in search of that beautiful light that only rainy days can provide. I went to the seashore where the reflective water surface shows thousands of gray hues and the wind that moves the vessels provoques exquisite graphisms.
I found a huge leafy tree which, like a big green umbrella, would protect me for a time from an upcoming heavy rain . I sat on the bulwark and I thought I´d better not attaching the tripod to my pochade box as in case of an emergency it would be faster to get out.
The quality of the photo above isn´t that good as when I asked a nice couple to take it, I didn´t realize the camera was in recording mode, so this is a still of a movie.Due to the circumstances I knew I had to work faster than fast, it was a real fight against the time lacking to start to rain, who would win? I started to say my mantra: simplify… simplify… get the essence...essence...essence ...
Well, end of the story: It rained(not so heavily) but the generous tree protected me from the drizzle and this is the result of my adventure:
First 2009 plein air painting:
Rainy Day at Guanabara Bay - oil on panel 16x22cm- Sandra Nunes
Posted bySandra Nunes at 7:54 PM 0 comments
Labels: brazilian art, Contemporary Landscape Artists, oil on canvas, plein air painting, Rio de janeiro landscapes, Seascape
Urca Fishing Boats
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
This is definitely a rainy season. Another break after several rainy days and there I went to paint in Urca. I had done a small sketch of this composition last week and I decided to do it in a larger format,this time a vertical one. I wanted the mountain, the Yatch Club and the bridge. The boats would be the stars.
These old boats are very charming and Corcovado mountain is a perfect background for this scene.
After setting up my painting gear, I started organizing the compositional elements on canvas looking for a better harmony of shapes.
Soon I realized that I wouldn´t have time for a detailed drawing as, despite a beautiful sunlight bathing the boats, there was a curtain of clouds starting to cover the mountain.
If I wanted to stick to my original plan I would have to work fast, so I decided for a more direct way, brush and paint, painting and drawing at the same time, adjusting shapes, colors and values. It was as if the mountain were playing hide-and-seek, clouds come and going, challenging my ability to capture the best moment to register on canvas.
I knew I wouldn´t finish this work in one session, but I was determined to go as far as I could until light changed too much. I was lucky, it didn´t rain.
Fortunatelly the next day the whether condition was the same and although the hide-and-seek continued , I could go on painting.
Last 2008 painting:
Urca Fishing Boats - oil on linen canvas 90cm x 50cm Sandra Nunes
Posted bySandra Nunes at 8:27 PM 2 comments
Labels: Contemporary Landscape Artists, Corcovado, fishing boats, marine painting, oil on canvas, plein air painting, Rio de janeiro landscapes
Curvelo Tram Station
Friday, December 12, 2008
This post could be named "There goes the Tram" complementing the post 'Here comes the Tram" , from my ongoing Santa Teresa series. This painting was done from the same spot of the last one. This time, working on a larger format, I looked to my right side where the tram leaves the district to its final stop downtown. I was intrigued by the exquisite backlight on the building and on people walking on the quiet street.
Curvelo Tram Station - oil on canvas 38x61cm- Sandra Nunes
Check other paintings from this series in my official website http://www.sandranunes.com/santa_teresa.html
Posted bySandra Nunes at 6:03 PM 0 comments
Labels: bonde de santa teresa, Contemporary Landscape Artists, oil on cavas, plein air painting, Rio de janeiro landscapes, Sandra Nunes, santa teresa tram, tramway
