Plein Air: Mini-Series

Borealis Park: Snye Reflections/Ink & Watercolour/Erin Stinson 2015

This lovely plein air "palette" cleanser has become part of my routine as of late and it is quite rejuvenating!  Plus, my love and appreciation for watercolour has been reignited.  Win, win!  There's something about getting outside that makes me breathe a little deeper and slower - it gives me perspective.  Paying attention to our surroundings and perhaps even considering how all things work together can only be done when we actually stop and give heed to what's around us. 

I've always loved tiny, miniature things.  This spring, while on a bike ride, I came up with an idea to do a series of plein air (french for "in the open air" - so basically a fancy way to say that you paint outside) paintings.  I had the specific intention of doing them on a small scale.  Although I have been occupied with work for my solo exhibit in February, I knew that this project would help me in the long-run.  I have a tendency to become project orientated, which can become problematic when I don't ever come up to breathe!  So, this idea was birthed out of a need to take breathers in my day - to step outside and regroup.  I knew that I could easily transport watercolour materials around with me, whether that was on foot, by bike, or driving to a destination.  The first piece began on a hillside in Borealis Park, overlooking a perfect reflection of the Syne, a sandwich in hand. 

Tall Lungwort/Ink & Watercolour/Erin Stinson 2015

I took along my supplies and painted away while we camped in Waterton National Park - letting the prairie-to-the-mountain landscape, as well as the mood of the weather, guide me along.  I was finding inspiration around everywhere! 

I've been experimenting with a variety of watercolour tools, combining them with both water-soluble and waterproof ink.  Incorporating different techniques has been refreshing as well - and I found myself brainstorming how I could later recreate some of the effects that organically happened simply by working outside (like strong, gusty, warm winds blowing across the page!) 

I arrived home with quite a number of finished work to add to the pile of plein air pieces and happily arranged them into white mats and frames.  I'm keeping a number of them under wraps for just a little while before I make them available for purchase.  Now I'm off to find the subject of my next miniature painting! 

Waterton Wildflowers: Hay Barn/Ink & Watercolour/Erin Stinson 2015