Jim McVicker Paintings: 2013-08-11

Garden Roses, Morning Light
24x30

These plein air painting are mostly the larger landscape works I did on location this winter and spring. In between the rain and fog we had several beautiful days to get outdoors to paint on the north coast of California. Most of January was crisp, dry and sunny. All the paintings were painted just up the road from where Terry and I live or in our garden. The first and third rose paintings were started in the spring of 2012 and brought back out on location this spring. I'll work several sittings on all the larger paintings, often ten or more, with 95 of the work taking place in front of the subject at the same time and lighting conditions each sitting. Very little work was done in the studio. Most paintings only slight changes and touches as I study the work away from the subject. Some require more. Sometimes when a piece is not working I try to see the changes needed to make it work. I will often ask Terry for her input and she will give me insights I had not seen or thought of. Away from nature I always try to see how the piece works as a painting. If I struggle to see what the painting is missing, by going back out on location, it is often revealed to me. I love working from life and the deep connection and energy one feels while landscape painting. It is the experience of painting on location that, as a landscape painter, I thrive on.