November Gold - Painting Along the Rio Grande

A Step-by-Step Plein Air Oil Painting Demonstration

Step 1. I love the light coming through these old cottonwood trees along the banks of the Rio Grande near Taos. The bark of these trees is very interesting - it varies from light to dark, depending on the age of the tree, and also picks up lots of color from the surroundings. The rhythm of the trunks add an interesting element to the composition. My challenge here was to keep the shapes connected as I painted, without sacrificing spatial depth. My first task was to draw the composition accurately on my canvas, including notations for light and shadow, so that I could work efficiently in the waning afternoon light.