concept: studio and plein air

18x18 pastel on Uart

There are two ways I look at my concepts for painting. First, is what happens in the studio and how the ideas grow from the small seeds planted earlier. Second, would be the concepts that I plant into the daily plein air paintings, the challenges I give myself.

I will start with studio concepts. In my studio you will see my many piles of sketchbooks. I keep all my ideas in these books. Inside one you might a description of a nocturne or sunrise, a beautiful line from a poem or story, an idea about color or combinations and, of course, many observed or remembered sketches. All of these ideas may sit on the page until finally the right moment comes when they take root. Sometimes it takes years or just a day or two.
Let me give you an example. Long ago I was reading a children's book. I can't even remember the name of the book right now although I wish I could. I wrote down one line that really struck me. "Dusk slowly pours the syrup of darkness." Oh how I loved that line and still do! It haunted me. Then, when I was in La Conner painting at dusk, in my favorite slough I couldn't help but think..."Wow, that's just how it feels! Deep thick sugary syrup of orange covers the Earth." During that trip I did many plein air works  at dusk and upon returning home created the one that made that feeling so clear. (see above.)

9x11 pastel and watercolor on Uart, plein air

My plein air work does not have that same type of concept. Instead, sometimes it is simply a study of the way clouds move or the desire to explore reflection and its relation to color harmony. While driving to my location I normally have some idea or challenge in my mind. In the painting above I was in southern California during the uncharacteristic "Pineapple Express." I was loving the fog and the way it enveloped everything. I remembered seeing this marvelous hill the day before and feeling obsessed about painting its "disappearance." Disappearance and its relationship to fog was the concept of this small plein air painting. It may one day be fodder for a bigger painting or it may not. Sometimes it's just an exercise.

Whether studio or plein air the common thread is a dedicated focus to an idea.

That's today's thoughts on concept. So far I have covered 3 items on my list...three more to go! Any thoughts?