This demo was for students from George Mason University. Every year for the last few years I have come out to The Clifton institute to demo and talk to freshman students about how I interact with nature as an artist. This year 120 student were there to ask questions and see my process as a painter. As an artist I support preservation of native ecosystems and biodiversity and I appreciate what the institute does.
I make a careful drawing of the scene and the other elements with a big brush. I use mostly flats for my work preferring their versatility to other brush shapes. Using flats allows me to paint with fewer brushes overall which mean a lighter rig to carry. I like Robert Simmons Signets they are the best brushes on the market in my opinion and hold up to all of the abuse I put them through. I’ve tried every other brand out there and nothing else comes close in quality and durability.
Because the color of the sky is so important to my idea for the painting I put that in first. When starting relatively early in the morning like I did the sky can change dramatically as the day progresses so getting it locked in is important.
Very nice demo Armand. I like this pink house. You're right it looks wonderful up against that blue sky. 120 students? That could be a bit distracting… Well done.