There are some great old ranches and open spaces near Castle Rock CO. Parking the truck and walking a short distance to this grazing field east of the Front Range offered a wonderful view. Many times I have passed by thinking of these opportunities.
Are there some common pitfalls in painting? I have at least several that I find repeated without even thinking about it. My past illustration work makes it easy for me to get 'lost' in too much detail. If I am more on top of my game, I squint to see values and basic shapes more clearly by blurring most of the detail.
Another is trying to be stingy on paint. It seems obvious, but it is a common mistake.
The last one is very familiar, because it can affect me before I start. Spending so much time looking for the 'right' place to be inspired. I have roamed most of a day and ended up running out of time. Feeling rushed is not a good position to start a painting.
I have tried to counteract this by keeping a camera with me and sometimes a small acrylic set of paints for a small study that dries quickly if I don't have time to paint on the spot. This way I have ideas sometimes for days that I am excited about. When the opportunity is there, I cant wait to get started, and have a plan before I pick up a brush.
