Saturday, September 15, 2012

Another plein air story

I think in my last post I made the idea plein air painting sound very bad. Actually it is not. My last post was about one off experience that happened. Otherwise painting outdoors is just as good as it can get.

This painting was done in an afternoon outside a children's park near my house. The park is closed in the afternoon, but opens in the evening. So there were really not many people around. I found a place with a lot of trees to protect me and these garbage trucks parked in front of me in the afternoon light were really looking good. But the best part of that afternoon was this little guy selling freshly toasted peanuts. 

He was waiting for the park to open and really was not doing any business that time. And when he saw me drawing he came in front of me and just stood in the best pose he could. I asked him to move a little to the side as he was blocking my view. He moved, but as little as he could. All he really wanted to be is to be drawn. And he just kept standing in that amazing pose. As soon as I understood that I was drawing his gesture.

Generally doing gesture studies outside is very difficult as people are constantly moving. But this guy was happily posing for me. What more could I ask for. So I did some studies on him and I showed him that. He was really very happy to see that and that made me even happier. And then when it came to the the painting he was was my foreground which really lifted the painting in my opinion. Just look at the way he is toasting the peanuts with a bend of his body and one knee resting on his cart.

Plein air painting is always full of surprises. It is almost like watercolor in nature. You just have to go with the flow. And add to that every experience creates great memories.


Plein air @ Indiranagar childrens park 01st Sep 2012
Size : 11 x 15 inch
Medium : Watercolor on paper

10 comments:

Studio at the Farm said...

This is such a beautiful, well-composed painting, Prabal! And your peanut-toaster-vendor really does add to the painting. :)

Carol Blackburn said...

Awesome one, Prabal with both the busy-ness of the vehicles and the waiting and anticipation of the vendor; both elements compliment each other wonderfully. :)

Vinayak Deshmukh said...

Beautiful work Prabal! I love the tone and colour variations in the hawker!

hmuxo said...

Absolutely beautiful, Prabal. This is a wonderful watercolor...

Pat said...

Gorgeous watercolour, Prabal.
The peanut toaster adds an extra dimension. He helps give depth and vitality, so I'm very glad you included him. Your painting gives the feeling he may be someone's breakfast stop on the way to work, as the sun is rising. Just fab!

Sandra Busby said...

What a great story! Such an enjoyable post. I'm guessing you use photo references for the vehicles?
It's a fabulous painting! And I love the idea of freshly toasted peanuts too. Yummy! :0)

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Prabal said...

Kathryn, Carol,
Thank you so much ladies for your kind comments.

Vinayak,
Thanks. I really enjoyed painting that part.

Prabal said...

Hilda,
Thank you. I am glad you liked it.

Pat,
That was elaborate. :) Thank you so much for leaving a comment. Breakfast of peanuts.. Not a bad idea. LOL. :)

Prabal said...

Sandra,
No no.. This was done outdoors completely. No photo reference. The actual truck was the reference. :)