While organizing file the other day I came across images of an interesting experiment. Some years ago while learning new painting mediums I did a number of studies of purple coneflowers in my garden. The idea was to learn to handle media besides my usual oil and occasional watercolors. With the subjects at hand just outside my studio door I did the four little paintings posted here. These are all 4x5 and done on the spot.
The first (right) is oil paint on a 4x6 gesso panel. Like the others below, the small size allowed for quick execution and therefore loose treatment, encouraging close observation and significant simplification.
Oil painting is probably the most satisfying medium I use. It's a suave, semi-opaque paint that stays put and dries to a durable, long-lasting film. But it's less portable than others and more expensive. Still, I love oil painting outdoors.
The second image is a watercolor done on a postcard sized piece of cold-press paper. As is clear, this kind of paint is quite transparent in comparison to somewhat more opaque oil paint. Again the small size and limited time encouraged detailed observation and rewarded simplification. Watercolor is a wonderfully quick and fun medium for outdoor and alla prima painting. Simple, portable materials continue to make this my go-to for outdoor work.
Another art medium I've continued to explore for years is digital drawing and painting. This particular digital painting was done on an iPad using a program called Sketchbook. It is sized like the other images here, though it could be any size the user chooses.
Examining this one after a lapse of several years suggests to me that digital painting can result in higher chroma images. It's also fascinating how digitally-made images like this can strongly suggest the use of traditional media.
Coupling an intuitive and complex program with a tablet like iPad ought to be another even simpler way to sketch outdoors. Of course, learning a digital art program and tablet pose significant learning curves. Notheless I may begin using a table outdoors too.
Finally this image was made using casein paint. Casein paint is actually a stable emulsion of oil and casein (milk protein) and comes tubed like other traditional paint media. It handles a little like oil, but is water soluble until it dries. Once casein is dry it makes a tough and durable paint film. (Think of dried milk in the bottom of a glass.) Casein isn't used much any more, being replaced by acrylics. Looking at this little painting--another 4x6--the image is at once simple but also solid-looking.
Casein is an interesting medium that might be useful outdoors but will demand care. Some kind of drying retarder is likely available and might help keep the paint open longer.
