Today Gill Van Wyk a South African art teacher, artist and tutor to South African Painting Holidays explains why she likes to do her Watercolour Painting en situ.
Gill says, issues such as changing light, people moving in and out of the scene and weather are a few of the aspects that one does not have to contend with when painting in ones studio or indoors wherever you normally work.
Painting out of doors poses new challenges to most amateur and
some professional artists. When working outdoors it is important to realise that you need to work fairly quickly and that what you achieve is not always the finished product.
Working outdoors needs simplification, but you needn’t be an experienced artist to enjoy the experience and certainly everyone can benefit from the joy of being outdoors and observing your surroundings in more detail on a totally different level to how you usually do.
Gill says she certainly gathers a sense of spiritual connection with her surroundings that never happens when only seeing a place in photographic form.
One of her favorite places to paint en situ is in the African bush where she goes to whenever possible. You can join her on one of her
Painting Holidays and enjoy some fun painting experiences with her!
I found this great painting tip from Sue Dickinson
Working with watercolour Try to avoid painting with your paper lying flat on a table. Rather tilt your paper about 25 degrees. This prevents the paint from making puddles when the paper is flat, and prevents wet paint from running down the paper when the paper is vertical. Unless, of course, you want this to happen!
Check out Sue’s demonstration on of her painting a leopard here
Painting Holidays in South Africa 
I clicked the link, I passed you around. Good luck.
Thank you Alfred and good luck with your rock art. Have you read about the first rock painting ever done in the world, some beautiful art work that we have in South Africa. Cave art really. Keep reading I’m writing something now about our rock art!