Plein Air for Members

Plein Air for Members

Alla Adams, Coordinator

Painting buildings in watercolor allows to capture the unique features and atmosphere of architectural structures. The fluidity of watercolor is perfect for capturing the mood and weather conditions around the building from sunny days to rainy scenes. This medium helps convey both the structure and the feeling of the place, bringing the building to life.

The Heights Neighborhood Library building has a pink Stucco Italian Renaissance Revival façade and arches in its doors and windows. It was built in 1926. In 1984 the building attained landmark status when it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2005 it was designated a protected city of Houston landmark.

This Plein Air event will focus on drawing and painting a building in an artistic representation of a city or urban area.

Plein Air - Recommended Supply List:  Plein Air - Supply List.docx

Below are some helpful YouTube video demos to practice at home before going to this event on location. With YouTube videos, I usually first watch the entire demo to see the result and make notes of important points. Then, I start the video again and paint along. I like the convenience of YouTube demos that they can be paused and so I can paint and learn in my pace.

I hope you enjoy practicing in advance and are excited about our topic – painting a building in a cityscape in Plein Air!

Capturing the Beauty of Old French Buildings: Plein Air Watercolor Painting Demo by Tim Wilmot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvRHj3hHlJI

Venice Travel Plein Air Watercolor Painting Demo: Renaissance Building Façade by Ina Xi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzIPip5uer0

This Is the Best Way to Paint Buildings by Robert Mee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GugmXDPiiA4

Repetition is essential for effective learning. Below are YouTube videos from the previous session focused on practicing cityscape perspective drawing and painting historical building(s):

How to Draw Perspective – A Simple Guide and Sketching Tutorial by Toby at Sketch Loose

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs9f9shBpNI

Cityscape Painting – En-Plein-Air Watercolor Demonstration by Liron Yanconsky

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNk87oa6XnY

Perspective Drawing for Painters – Tips Tricks and Techniques by Liron Yanconsky

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMgBUXfwS0g

How to Paint Architecture in Watercolor Loose Style – Painting Light and Mood by Nina Volk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKzkitSEUro

Watercolor Demonstration by Vladislav Yeliseyev

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmkHmBZfMD8