So I created the Vancouver En Plein Air Painting meetup in Vancouver…
Next, I’m going to Greece to paint. Want to join me on the beautiful island of Corfu for a painting holiday October 7-14, 2024? 8 days, 7 nights, all inclusive for 2900 euros. Sound good? Check out my page above on the “Painting Holiday in Corfu” to get all the details.
You could be painting these scenes next October!
And staying in this beautiful modern villa in the countryside…
Check out my page on the Corfu trip or email me at maryancerina.artist@gmail.com for more information.
I’m learning about plein air painting. I’m quite good at painting in acrylic from photographs in a studio setting. I’m also good at painting with oils in a studio setting where there is time for the painting to dry in between sessions. In these two instances, I usually build up the painting in layers from what is behind to what is in front, form the general to the specific. As the paint dries, I can add lights or darks where needed, or I can change the colour completely by just painting over what I had already painted.
Example of a painting painted in acrylic from a photograph, not plein air, but in my comfort zone.
Now I’m learning to paint outdoors and complete a painting in one session, though I have realized that need to give myself more time for this to happen. The challenge is to move the still wet paint around on your canvas without muddying up what you have already laid down.
Another difference between painting out doors, or en plein air, is that you see the world differently in real life than when looking at a photograph. A photo is a 2-D representation of reality, a simplification, all the information is there to look at. I can zoom in if I need to see details. There is a single perspective, the composition is complete, and it has borders around it, it ends. In real life, objects are three dimensional and the perspective changes when you move from one spot to another. When you move, you’re moving your built in camera, your eyes, from spot to spot and this changes the perspective.
While standing in front of your canvas outdoors, you need to mentally decide where the boundaries of your painting will be. How much will fit on my canvas? When I look up or to the sides, I see so much, but do I need to include that in my painting? Where in the plane of my canvas, does an object begin and end? Do I cut off the top of the tree or do I paint the whole tree? Will that look too static? If I start too big, the tree won’t fit, if I start it too small, will the surrounding area pull focus? There are so many compositional decisions to make when painting outdoors. Then there is the ever changing light, from clouds coming and going, to the sun changing positions in the sky so that all of the shadows also change, as does the warmth or coolness of the colours. It takes practice to learn how to paint outdoors well.
I struggled with the painting below of the pond more than with the following painting of the single tree. I think I may need to simplify my subject matter while I’m learning so many new things. Despite the learning curve, I’m finding that I really enjoy painting from real life in the outdoors. It’s a different experience to painting from a photo indoors. More visceral. I like that.
I started this painting last week and it got quite chilly outside, so I will finish this at home. I enjoyed the painting session until towards the end, when I became too cold and also frustrated with the changing light in the pond. Then I quickly smeared part of the water area together and then I wasn’t sure if that was an improvement or not. I realized that I should just stop painting and continue when my mind is more relaxed and focused again. Painting through frustration can be a dangerous thing as you may impulsively execute quick strokes or add colours that you might regret later. Which is not the end of the world, but sometimes it’s better to just stop and take a break.
It was such a beautiful day in a beautiful garden, and I wanted to capture that moment. This painting is to be continued!
I really enjoyed painting this tree. When a painting is taken indoors after painting in the bright light of the day, it looks a bit duller at home. I will likely add a few highlights so that it looks as bright as in the last photo. I was really happy with the look of spontaneity in the painting, the freshness.
I am pleased to announce that my new website will be up and running by Nov 30, 2016 at http://www.maryancerina.com. Please follow me there for future posts and information on commissions, lessons, house portraits and my latest work.
Thank you for following me over the past two years.
This print is of a watercolour painting I did while living in Bangkok, Thailand. I became fascinated with lotus flowers while there, they’re so beautiful and such an important part of Thai culture. While walking in Bangkok’s largest park, Lumpini Park, I came across a small pond with a tangle of lotuses. I snapped a photo and then painted this in the studio of my artist friend and mentor, Russell Fadavi. I made several prints to give away to family and just came across my last remaining print. Let me know if you’re interested in having this print adorn your wall! Print of Lotuses in Lumpini Park, Thailand 15.5″ x 12″ $60
I would describe myself as an eclectic artist. I paint in different styles. I love my whimsical paintings, they’re fun and light. I’m proud of my realistic paintings. They took a lot of work and dedication to detail. Both create a meditative state, in different ways. I’ve always loved creating. I sew, take photos, I’ve done pottery, a bit of sculpture, I made batiks and oil paintings and water colours and acrylic paintings. I love trying new things and learning. I love exploring the world of the real and of the spirit, which really are the same thing.
If you like any of these, please send me an email at maryancerina.artist@gmail.com, or leave me a comment below. Thanks!
This print is of a watercolour painting I did while living in Bangkok, Thailand. I became fascinated with lotus flowers while there, they’re so beautiful and such an important part of Thai culture. While walking in Bangkok’s largest park, Lumpini Park, I came across a small pond with a tangle of lotuses. I snapped a photo and then painted this in the studio of my artist friend and mentor, Russell Fadavi. I made several prints to give away to family and just came across my last remaining print. Let me know if you’re interested in having this print adorn your wall! Print of Lotuses in Lumpini Park, Thailand 15.5″ x 12″ $60
Do you live in Vancouver and always wanted to learn how to paint but were afraid to join a class, or were just too busy? Then my painting lessons might be for you! I provide a supportive learning environment, teaching you basic techniques to make a painting you can be proud of, for you or a small group of your friends. Day and evening times available.
Call Maryan Cerina, artist and teacher, at 778-713-1927 for more information or to book you class today. Email: maryancerina.artist@gmail.com
I’ve been inspired to write daily reflections until my next birthday, which is in 12 days. One day for each month of the past year. Thus, “Living the Creative Life 2015, a Review” is born this evening …
January was a great month for creative living, it had it all… travel, adventure, painting and reconnecting with friends and places.
It all started with my 60th birthday and the Intuitive Painting Party I held for friends on Granville Island here in Vancouver on Jan 4.
By Jan 5, I was on a plane headed for a month of travel to Thailand to revisit friends, my old school and favourite places after living there for 13 years.
First stop, the Da Vinci Boutique Hotel, where western art meets Asian fashion designer. The owner was a successful children’s wear clothing designer, but now designs a line of luxury bed linens and cushions of the most beautiful fabrics.
Jan 8, my birthday, was celebrated at my dear friend’s Indian restaurant, Mrs Balbir’s, featuring some of the most delicious food in Bangkok.
Jan 12 saw a visit to another creative friend of mine, Sam Sethi, a clothing designer of Indian descent, whose exquisite creations in hand embroidered silks are an inspiration in themselves.
Later, creativity with food continued during a cooking lesson of Sri Lanken food at Mrs Balbir’s, followed by an evening with the Soropimtist’s Society and a talk on the history and collecting of Thai amulets. I was seated next to two wonderful women from Argentina, both artists.
My hotel was located near the painting studio of another ex-pat friend of mine, Elsie Evans Daily Paintings, always inspiring and never boring!
A trip to my old school, The Early Learning Centre in Bangkok, is a must for me. It has to be the most inspiring K-6 school I know, and I was lucky to teach there from 1999-2013. Very creative, amazing place. www.elc-bangkok.com
Several days on the island of Samui was so much fun. I stayed in my favorite place, The Spa Resort and Radiance Restaurant, http://www.thesparesorts.net, where the beauty of Thailand meets western healthy living ideals and people from around the globe meet, with many returning annually for a month or more.
I drank tea at San-bao Veith‘s tea ceremony, laughed with friends, ate healthy food, attended daily yoga, had massages, walked along the beach and painted on the balcony of my hillside hut in the torrential rain. Heaven.
Back in Bangkok, I offered three painting workshops. Two were held at my Greek friend, Elena Karoumpi ‘s restaurant, The Olive Kebab and Cafe, and the third at my friend, Bita Sethi‘s yoga studio. Jan 30 was my last day in Thailand. How wonderful was this trip???? The best. Missing Thailand and all my friends and adventures there!!!!! How lucky I am to have the adventures I have!
Look at who appeared on my paper recently. “Entertaining Possibilities” seems to be thinking outside the box. “Jumping Into Being” began as a few smears and smudges of paint and then seemed to want to “become”, as though jumping from behind the colours and onto the paper. So much fun to paint from an intuitive place. I get the sense that I’m peering into another world for a moment, a magical world where anything is possible.
A new poster for my next event, Painting From Intuition:
Saturday, May 2, 12:00-3:00 pm, $75.00 All materials included
The Art Way Studio, 649 E 15 Ave, Vancouver BC
Using techniques to better access your intuitive side, apply colourful, lush paint with brushes, palette knives, sponges and perhaps even your hands, to as many large pieces of paper as you choose. We use pre-mixed high quality tempera paint on 20”x26” acid free paper