Painting with the Al Frescoes a couple of weeks ago at Mitchell's Farm. I allowed myself to paint a more difficult subject matter - People in the painting. I have been painting in Oils for 4-5 years and Plein Air painting for as long. It has taken me that long to be comfortable with the materials, how I set up, colour theory (still working on that) internalizing the basics I guess.

I have been going to the same spot to paint for the last week or so. It has been a interesting experiment. Painting the same view 4 or 5 times. I have painted small panels (12x6) and larger ones  (12x24). Lots of learning. I am more comfortable painting in general. I'm rethinking focal point, cold and warm, light and dark and of course my composition. I was saying to my wife that I'm glad I focused on trees and landscape. There is a unrestricted openness to organic subject matter. I now want to move toward a more demanding subject - People, buildings, etc. I can draw which helps immensely. The challenge is producing a believable rendition of what I see that is pleasing to my eye and a work of art that has skillful merit.

A couple of locations around Victoria this past week. I tried a larger format board than usual - 12/24 inches. The piece took two days in the field and then some touch ups are happening in the studio now.