MIDLAND OUTDOOR PAINTERS




Midland Outdoor Painters (MOP) is an informal group of artists who come together to paint "en plein air" and to offer support and get helpful criticism of their work. This blog has been set up to inform participants in Midland Outdoor Painters of recent activities on a weekly basis. The group meets every Saturday, rain or shine from 9AM to about 11AM. You are welcome to join us with any medium; sketchbook, oils, pastels, watercolor, pen and ink, or just to watch. ALL SKILL LEVELS ARE WELCOME. The painting location will be posted here every preceding Thursday by the "location master", a position currently held by Priscilla Olson. She will also email the location to those who choose to be on the MOP mailing list. If anyone has ideas for other places they'd like to paint on future Saturdays, please let Priscilla know by the Wednesday night prior. To be added to the list, enter your email where it says "Follow by Email" or, if you have questions, contact Priscilla at artofpriscilla@att.net

Friday, June 28, 2013

MOP Location: Saturday June 29

It's the Nature Center again this Saturday - there is such a variety of views and things to paint there.  It will probably be rainy, or at least misty, but warm. There are a few places for shelter, while you paint, around the Homestead or Nature Study building.  If you come and paint, but don't happen to see any other painters nearby, we would love to see pictures of you and/or your work to post here.  Please send them to the email in the header above.  (Strictly voluntary!)   See you tomorrow!  See MOP Location:  June 22 below.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

MOP-UPdate: Saturday, June 22

Priscilla was joined by Anna and her mother Juanita at the Homestead Farm.  9 year old Anna loves to draw buildings and she made a beautiful drawing of the Farm house.  Priscilla was again captivated by the pigs.  It was a nice morning!  Please note:  next week's location will be posted Friday afternoon (Not Thurs eve.).


So Priscilla spent a few hours in the day of some pigs.
Bathing Beauties!

Thursday, June 20, 2013

MOP Location: Saturday June 22

This Saturday we'll be returning to the Homestead Farm at the Chippewa Nature Center.  If it's just too rainy, we can move on down the road to the shelter near the Nature Study Building and Peepers Pond.  It will be nice and warm, if wet!  See you there!









Tuesday, June 18, 2013

MOP-UPdate: Saturday, June 15

Another beautiful day at Marjorie's!  The sunshine was a little fickle, so it was a challenge to stay consistent with our original decisions.  The shadows kept disappearing!

"Yours truly" is painting over an old unsuccessful painting and using a new kind of medium with her paints.  Kind of frustrating from beginning to end!


Sarah is taking advantage of a patch of sunlight to do a small, quick color study.


Her box is light enough to hold in one hand while painting.  It's good for quick studies because of it's size and quick set-up time.


Vicki is continuing on the painting she started last week.


It's coming together!  Nice movement and detail!


Marjorie is visiting Alan as he sets up.


Alan loses no time!  He applies his paint with conviction as well as speed!


Voila!


Priscilla lost her initial motivation on this one.  It will probably remain unfinished.


Thursday, June 13, 2013

MOP Location: Saturday, June 15

This Saturday we'll meet again at Marjorie Kruger's place.  This will give a few of us a chance to finish up what we started last week - if it's not raining!  If so, there are a few sheltered places to set up and paint.  Please refer to the post  "MOP Location: Saturday June 8" for directions to Marjorie's.  See you there!

Monday, June 10, 2013

MOP-UPdate: Saturday, June 8

What a beautiful day in the country!  It was so quiet and fragrant, with no distractions.  We found plenty of intriguing places to set up and paint at Marjorie's place.  Thanks, Marjorie!

Donna found a secluded spot overlooking the creek.

A good start on a challenging subject:  running water!


Vicki is comfortable among the bushes - no mosquitoes yet?


Vicki chose to depict the front of Marjorie's shed with a wagon and flowers in front.  Another good start!  We will return soon so she can continue working on it.


Priscilla couldn't decide which direction to paint from where she was standing, so she made a very small color sketch of the view behind her. With the sun full on her painting and palette there was too much glare to see color accurately...


...so she turned around and got to work on her original idea.


Marjorie and Donna:  good painting buddies!

Thursday, June 6, 2013

MOP Location: Saturday, June 8

This Saturday promises to be warm and sunny. Margorie Kruger has graciously invited MOP to come paint on her property.  She lives in a beautiful rural location off of S. Saginaw Rd. toward Freeland. Margorie paints with the Paint and Palette Club on Monday mornings and was the oil painting instructor at the Midland Community Center.

Take S. Saginaw road past Dow Chemical to Gordonville Rd. Turn right on Gordonville,  go over the river, then turn left on E. River Rd., right on S. Orr Rd., then take the first left onto Sarle Rd.  Marjorie's address is 12720 Sarle Rd.  It's approximately 8 miles from downtown.  Please don't park on the grass.  Park on the side of the road (very little traffic) or on the driveway.

See you there!



Tuesday, June 4, 2013

MOP-UPdate: Saturday, June 1

Rain threatened, but never came!  We had a lovely day near the Farmer's Market painting the Tridge, the people, and the scenery.  A few people stopped by and expressed interest in joining the group.

Vicki's painting is informed by what she learned in her recent workshop with Caesar Citraro at the MCFTA.

Adding detail.

Donna took advantage of the seating opportunities to get a good view of her subject.

She toned the canvas first with a warm pink, then worked on her darker areas. She'll later add the sky colors last, which will contrast nicely with the underpainting and green foliage.

Priscilla used her small painting set-up (it packs up quickly in a downpour!) and took on the challenge of painting a moving subject: people!  It's a kind of lopsided composition, so it might bear further work in the studio with photo reference, memory, and some imagination.

Priscilla didn't get much better photo reference than this, so memory and imagination will have to suffice!