Here are some of my plein air landscape paintings of Ireland from ‘Europe’s biggest plein air painting festival’, the Art in the Open plein air landscape painting festival in Wexford. It was my first time in a painting festival like this and I had a good time.
I’ve painted the Irish landscape before, so I knew what I was getting into weather-wise. Last time I worked a lot from inside the car. This time I bought a full waterproof kit and just painted through the showers. Both methods have their drawbacks.
Kilmore Quay. 25 x 35 cm, oil on linen (on board).
The Parking Lot at Kilmore Quay. 20 x 30 cm, oil on linen (on board).
Approaching Rain, Hook Head Lighthouse. 25 x 35 cm, oil on linen (on board).
Hook Head Lighthouse. 20 x 30 cm, oil on linen (on board).
Buildings at Hook Head. 25 x 35 cm, oil on linen (on board).
Main Street, Wexford. 20 x 30 cm, oil on linen (on board).
Boat in Wexford Harbor. 20 x 30 cm, oil on linen (on board).
Wexford Sketch. 20 x 30 cm, oil on linen (on board).
The Quay at Wexford. 25 x 35 cm, oil on linen (on board).
Huntington Castle. 25 x 35 cm, oil on linen (on board).
Enniscorthy Bridge. 25 x 35 cm, oil on linen (on board).
Irish landscape paintings can be quite a challenge with the radically changing weather. The Irish landscape is stunning though and I look forward to going back to AITO next year.
Just love them ALL!!! Pure Irish waether, the sweetest greys ever!
All gorgeous–I like Hook Head Lighthouse the best. I love how you add detail without looking fussy. Beautiful work.
Brilliant as ever Marc – well done again!
Very beautiful paintings. I see gray weather is not a problem for you.
Wonderful body of work Marc. We have seen so much gray weather this summer along the far north coast of Ca., a lot like your paintings. The color and values in these paintings really make those grays work beautifully. Jim
Wow Marc, gorgeous paintings. Your work always has a very special feeling.
Could you elaborate more on the waterproof kit and the advantages/disadvantages of both methods?
Thanks, erik
Thanks Erik. Painting from a car restricts your subject matter, as there are only so many places to park. Especially in Ireland where you have hedgerows alongside all the roads. It’s also annoying not to be able to step away from the work and see it from a distance.
Painting in pouring rain can be problematic for a number of reasons: The paint doesn’t always stick well if there are sheets of water on the canvas. I was using Harding’s titanium white which bled in the water, I wont buy it again. The raindrops actually make little craters in the paint if you look at it closely.
The worst problem though is the wind. It moves the board the whole time and makes details very difficult. On all these works I spent a day in the hotel room straightening lines and fixing wind-caused paint spasms, as well as cleaning up the white bleeds everywhere.
Vedo che la pioggia non frena i risultati !!!
Bravo Marc … Forse l’acquarello ancora più impossibile !!
Very nice work Mark, I am organizing a plain air festival in Canada for next summer , in a city call Belleville, you are welcome if you feel like coming, I will let you know more if you are interested, is going to be good prices .
Feels like the Ireland I remember! Congratulations on handling the rigors of Irish painting so well.
I had the priviledge to see these in the real world. Great job!
Oh and thanks for all the tips Mark.
Take care.