Opus Art Supplies Demo

It was a pleasure to teach a live demo for my favourite art store Opus Art Supplies! We talked about how I use my on-location sketching along with reference photos to inspire my studio practice. I demonstrated how I combine both kinds of references to create finished paintings that capture the atmosphere and feel of a place.

Location sketching helps me recall my focus- what most caught my attention about a scene. I can simplify the view and record colours, light and dominant shapes using my impressions at the time. They let me quickly create a personal response to a place. Photographs record a full range of detail and information, and are very useful if I’m not able to complete a sketch due to time or weather.

In my demonstration I adjusted the colours from both sketch and photo to create a sense of summer whilst holding on to the moodiness of the day. I edited the vegetation further and built a stronger feeling of light and shade. I enhanced the feeling of the prevailing winds using the composition, by shifting the sea stack further right and using elements in the vegetation to enhance the movement.

If you painted along, I’d love it if you shared your art by tagging me @andreaenglandart on Instagram !

If you couldn’t make the demo, you’re welcome to use my references as inspiration for your personal practice.

You might also enjoy my recent podcast episode with Opus- Communicating Landscapes in Plein Air. You can listen here!