Quintessentially Quang: Winter Landscape Demo

Quang Ho demo painting of Cherry Creek in Denver, CO

Here in the Mile High City, one of our “celebrity” painters is the renowned and highly respected Quang Ho. (Even my "non-art" friends know who he is.) And almost every well-known local artist seems to have some connection to him and/or his painting philosophies and insights. I for example study with three artists who were lucky enough to study with Quang.

At this time, Quang doesn’t teach regular classes anymore so I always jump at any chance to attend one of his shows or painting demos. Last Sunday I attended a fantastic all day demo at the Denver Art League. 

In the morning session, Quang (who paints a wide variety of subject matter) discussed figure paintings and his recent interest in glazing methods. This was fascinating but I was thrilled in the afternoon that he painted a lovely snowscape (yay) from start to finish. FYI, as you can see Quang painted from photo displayed on a large Apple monitor which was attached to a really cool adjustable monitor stand.

 

Quang brought this stunning larger framed landscape--also of the Cherry Creek.

Interestingly, the snowscape was of the Cherry Creek which is only blocks from my studio. I walk by it all the time. So it was eye-opening (to say the least) to see such a familiar scene interpreted so beautifully through the eyes of a master.  Here are some pics and some highlights from my notes.

Close up of Quang's oil painting palette

• Carefully observe where your shape starts and stops. The light and dark are separate organisms—Look for 2 big areas and then break those down. 
• Your most important drawing takes place where the light meets the shadow.
• Consider there are many different ways to soften your edges.
  Soften edges where shapes of same value meet (i.e. very dark shape next to very dark shape)
  Stare at your painting for a few moments then look away—what do you remember? (Those are your hardest edges.) Trees for example may be much softer than you think they are. f you over soften an area you could lose your shape (structure)
• Simplify your process. First good shapes, then value, then color, then edges…
• Small dark accents—such as tiny cast shadows are important because they help hold shapes.
• What makes a good landscape? Nature never repeats.
  For snow, it helps to have a midtone base that the brighter white can sit on top of.
• First 20 minutes work slower on composition/ structure then you can speed up and get looser later
• Keep comparing one area to another--Your painting is like a giant carpet with patter and texture,
• There’s a reason for every color you see.
  

After intensely (and very humbly) observing Quang last Sunday I was greatly inspired--particularly to paint some snowscapes so stay tuned and have a wonderful week!

Falling Forward

I have a confession to make. As much as I love landscape painting, I'm not the world's most tolerant plein air painter. For me, plein air is the "camping" of painting, where my cozy in home studio is the Ritz. I really have to give props to those die hard plein air painters that the West is known for.

Once it a while though, despite the maddening light changes, bugs, wind, etc. as all plein air painters know--it's all worth it.

In anticipation of fall, here's a plein air painting of my beloved Washington Park. True, I did not stray more than a few blocks away, but I was outside and that always makes for a very special painting. I'm pledging here to try it again in a few weeks--though I may have lounge chair and a Starbucks mocha (with extra cinnamon) in hand.