Arnica Grace and the Round Rock Plein Air Painters got a first look at the beautiful blooms. Full of color and light, this 11″ x 14″ oil painting was made on site.
Plein Air painting is a time-honored traditional way for artists to capture a spectacular moment in time. From Monet and Cezanne all the way down to the present, painters like Arnica have always enjoyed the challenge of capturing the light and colors of the seasons.
Every cloud has a silver lining. These are golden. What could be better than the sun peeking out at you at the end of a cloudy day? Come visit the Port Aransas Art Center today and enjoy the glow.
This work is a marvel of layering. The colors shift as the daylight changes. In the evening, the darker tones are dominant, but midday the glazes of blue and violet are strongest. Come see for yourself!
If you like the beach, try the view from Beachgate Condosuites and Hotel. Room 533 has a very nice one! Here is a plein air painting done on that very balcony by Arnica Grace. Unframed, it’s yours for just $80. Ships mounted on a board ready to be framed and hung in your favorite space.
The plein air method was popularized by the French Impressionists. “Plein air painting is about leaving the four walls of your studio behind and experiencing painting and drawing in the landscape. The practice goes back for centuries but was truly made into an art form by the French Impressionists. Their desire to paint light and its changing, ephemeral qualities, coupled with the creation of transportable paint tubes and the box easel—the precursor to the plein air easels of today—allowed artists the freedom to paint “en plein air,” which is the French expression for “in the open air.” –
https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-subjects/plein-air/plein-air-art/
It’s not a sunny day, but the world offers beauty anyway. Sometimes a little mist on your nose is just the right thing. With layers of impasto and glazing, this painting glows from within. The heavy impasto- a technique of laying on paint so thickly that it stands out from a surface- adds character and form.
Arnica Grace has been known to use painting knives- a flexible metal blade. This device helps her to put down the thick paint she likes to see in some of her larger works. This being a Big Big Sky, she uses the painting knife with gusto! Energy and form, peace and activity, layers of color sing in a unique harmony.
Collections begin with one piece. This is a good cornerstone for the foundation of your own art empire. Enjoy!
It’s impossible to stay inside with the weather so fine. Here is a small image of Arnica C. Grace’s backyard in early spring. The birds are back. They have pecked away at the block of food in the bird feeder. It hangs on a hook behind the patio flowerpots. The bushes are green and lush. The patio flowerpots are ready to bloom. Happy springtime! This 6″ x 8″ oil painting is only $40.
Aerial perspective is a fun painting technique. It uses greys and blues to represent space and distant objects. Here Arnica has made a strong use of aerial perspective in this painting ‘Spring Fever.’
Anna is a finely shaded and modeled oil painting. Arnica describes the shallow space in the painting with a free hand and broad brushstrokes. Depth and dimension is achieved with transparency and color blending. This small work, about 12″x 16″ was painted at Austin Visual Arts Association studios.
This gem of a watercolor glows from within. The viewer experiences a warm breezy day at the beach. The depth and dimension for a work on paper is unexpected. ‘Windswept’ was part of the January exhibit at PAAC gallery. This painting is now ready to come home to you.
This wispy elfin daydreamer will capture your heart and dreams too! Traditional oil painting layering and glazing produce rich tones and highlights. Produced at Austin’s Visual Arts Association studio, this work is sure to brighten up any space.
Thought-provoking seated pose with brash coloration. Your imagination can only begin to sense what is in the mind of this young person. Painted in oils at Austin Visual Arts Association studios, this painting will be a real centerpiece for conversation.
Recently, Arnica Grace has been taking her studio out of doors for some fun, fresh paintings. Here is one example of aerial perspective working to harmonize gentle coloration. A play between violets and soft golds help the viewer feel the morning breeze in their hair. Layering of glazes and impasto technique is also used to create a sense of depth and texture, especially in the watery foreground.