I paint fast and loose, usually just using palette knives, and usually outdoors. Acrylic paint dries really fast, especially in the open air, which encourages this messy, slap-it-on-before-it-dries texture. It’s intentional and I love the texture and color and movement the technique can bring. I actually sometimes try for abstraction, and the faster I have to paint (due to time or wind or altitude), the more successful that sometimes is.
This style is definitely not for everyone! Most plein air painters are more deliberate in conveying the scene, a little more realistically than I do. They use oil paints (or watercolors) which don’t dry out as quickly. I love sooo many of these paintings, too, and most of these artists have a lot more schooling and experience than I do.
But, this is me…when I paint, I’m in the moment, and it’s the closest I’ve been able to come to meditation.
Some paintings are more successful than others. Sometimes I change or fix or add or finish at home. And sometimes I paint at home from photos. If you would like a custom landscape painting—that is not particularly realistic—drop me a note!