Four Advanced Impressionist Methods

Mastering Brush Techniques: Advanced impressionist painters focus on diverse brush techniques to create texture and movement. Techniques such as scumbling, glazing, and dry brushing allow artists to convey light and depth, enhancing the spontaneous and atmospheric qualities that define impressionism. We have found using these methods so exciting. Using different methods in one painting lifts the depth of layers and the final outcome is so much more rich and dynamic.

Imagine a serene landscape featuring gentle rolling hills adorned with vibrant wildflowers. The sun casts a warm golden hue over the scene, illuminating a calm, crystal-clear lake that reflects the sky's shades of blue. In the distance, a family of kangaroos grazes peacefully, adding a touch of life to the picturesque view. This artwork captures the essence of Australia’s natural beauty, inviting you to immerse yourself in its tranquil charm.

Understanding Light and Colour: A deep understanding of how light interacts with different surfaces and landscapes is crucial. Advanced painters often study the effects of different times of day and weather conditions on colour perception, using complementary and analogous colours to capture the vibrancy of a scene. We have made a study of this area from a psychodynamic perspective, as this relates to mental health and mood. Applying this intuitive vision and sense to painting reveals so many subtle and vibrant applications of colour, texture, and form.

Imagine standing in a sun-drenched gallery, the walls adorned with breathtaking artworks that invite you to linger. Each piece tells a story—vibrant landscapes that evoke the beauty of the Australian outback, or abstract works that play with colour and form, igniting your imagination. You find your eyes drawn to a stunning seascape, the waves captured in a dance of blues and whites, expertly conveying the energy of the ocean.

As you step closer, you can almost hear the roar of the waves and feel the sea breeze upon your skin. You take a moment to appreciate the intricate brushwork and the artist's passion laid bare on the canvas. In the corner, a cheerful art instructor engages a small group of budding artists, sharing tips on how to harness emotion in their own creations.

This isn’t just an exhibition; it’s a community celebration of creativity, where every artwork connects you to the artist’s spirit and the world around you. Imagine feeling that spark of inspiration, and perhaps, leaving with a newfound desire to express yourself through art.

Mood and Emotion: Advanced impressionist painting goes beyond merely depicting a subject; it's about conveying mood and emotion. Artists often use colour palettes and brushwork to evoke feelings, making each piece a personal expression. Experimentation with unusual colour choices can enhance emotional impact. Personally, I think (and feel) this is one of my personal strengths as a painter. For me, this draws in Indigenous cultural connections with the land and ecology. The study of human ecology as a field of science and psychology has greatly enhanced my use of systems theory and family life education models - these can be applied to painting and ceramic arts in so many ways. For example, systems theory relies on understanding complex relationships within environments. We apply this model to colour, texture, and form as three systems.

Imagine mood and emotion on canvas, where vibrant colours burst forth to express the depths of human experience. Each brushstroke whispers secrets of joy, despair, love, and longing. A deep blue sky might cradle a fleeting moment of tranquillity, while fiery reds and oranges swirl beneath it, representing passion and tumult.

The stark contrast of light and shadow captures the fragility of happiness—bright yellows and soft pastels illuminating the corners of a composition, suggesting the warmth of a cherished memory. In other areas, darker tones loom, evoking a sense of loss or introspection.

Textures play a vital role; thick impasto invites touch, while smooth washes create a soothing ambience. Layers of paint build a narrative, urging viewers to look deeper, to feel, to connect. Every piece becomes a mirror reflecting inner worlds, reminding us that art is not just seen but profoundly felt.

In this dance of hues, the canvas transforms into an emotional landscape, leaving us to ponder the stories behind each vivid intersection. Whether it’s the calm after a storm or the exuberance of a sunlit day, every artwork holds an essence, encapsulating moods that beckon us to explore.

Plein Air vs. Studio Work: While plein air painting captures the immediacy of a scene, advanced practitioners blend this with studio techniques. Creating studies outdoors while refining the final piece in the studio allows for a perfect balance of spontaneity and deliberate composition. This dual approach can lead to more dynamic and nuanced works.

In my practice, study of the subject often relies on plein air observations and sometimes sketches. More so, a deep meditation on the form, colour, light and shadow. I like to work outside in the Australian air - especially under the very large porch that overlooks the garden and massive gum tree. We are on a public park, so our vista is not expansive but is wide and inviting. Getting out into the park provides much inspiration.

Creating art both in plein air and within the studio environment offers a dynamic and enriching experience that can greatly enhance one’s skills and creativity.

Plein air painting immerses you in the natural world, allowing you to engage directly with your surroundings. The ever-changing light, weather, and atmosphere present a unique challenge, demanding quick decision-making and an understanding of colour harmonies. You can capture the essence of a moment—a rustling leaf, a glimmering water surface, or the vibrant hues of a sunset—while feeling the textures and sounds of nature all around you. This spontaneity often translates into fresher, livelier brushwork and a sense of immediacy in your pieces.

In contrast, the studio provides a controlled environment conducive to reflection and refinement. Here, you can take your plein air sketches and transform them into more polished works. This is where imagination meets technique; you can experiment with compositions, play with colour palettes, and explore different mediums without the constraints of time and circumstance that plein air demands. Studio work allows you to slow down, think critically about your artistic choices, and develop a cohesive narrative in your pieces.

Both approaches inform one another beautifully. The inspiration drawn from direct observation enhances studio work, while the careful deliberation in the studio fosters deeper understanding and technique that can be applied back in the field. Embracing both practices enriches your artistic journey, leading to a vibrant and evolving body of work that captures the essence of your experiences, both in nature and in the creative space you create.

One personal note, we find that art creation holds a kind of temporal urgency that has been a continual experience over the decades since our youth. The urgency comes from the fleeting nature of inspiration that is also profoundly moving and almost immutable. But also from the embodied urgency of flow, change, movement, and social demands that shift our focus. Capturing the spiritual dimension or the physical artefact on canvas, in poetic words, through clay or form, and in musical composition is an intensely focusing action that demands total concentration. To not give 200% of yourself in the moment risks not grasping the essence and then the work failing to convey that distinct meaning and energy.

This existential experience in art practice leads us to enjoy plein air as on example of the fragile nature of painting - but in another sense plein air adds additional challenges to the process that can distract from the intensity of focus and concentration that is often demanded in our practice. Like all things, it is a balance. We have experiences when in garden painting a flower or landscape is sublime and the urgency of plein air adds to the depth of wonder and the colours on the canvas work magic.

At other times, the puppies barking or jumping on our legs, or the rush of traffic sounds or other distractions in the city make art practice challenging. The work may not feel cohesive and whether the final result works or not may depend on a range of factors. Often these works are retouched back in the studio where the calm centred nature of contemplative practice informs the layers to draw the piece into a cohesive narrative.