Guide to Plein Air Paint-Outs and Constructive Critiques
OPM invites members to host paint-outs and painting critique sessions to get to know other members, enjoy painting together outdoors, and increase our collective knowledge about plein air painting techniques.
To host a paint-out, contact the Paint-Out Director to add the event to the OPM Calendar. You may want to place an OPM yard sign in or near the parking area where arriving members will see it. Paint-outs generally do not involve any Sign-Up or advance commitment, so you may want to set up and paint nearby so people will find you.
After paint-outs, particpants might be interested in a group critique. Because people's needs and expectations may differ, OPM has adopted these general guidelines:
Before offering commentary--
To host a paint-out, contact the Paint-Out Director to add the event to the OPM Calendar. You may want to place an OPM yard sign in or near the parking area where arriving members will see it. Paint-outs generally do not involve any Sign-Up or advance commitment, so you may want to set up and paint nearby so people will find you.
After paint-outs, particpants might be interested in a group critique. Because people's needs and expectations may differ, OPM has adopted these general guidelines:
Before offering commentary--
- Ask what painters intended to accomplish or learn from the painting or paint-out.
- Invite painters to describe what they would like to learn from the group critique.
- Start with a positive observation about what is pleasing or "works" about the painting.
- Based on the painter's expectations, offer questions about what might have been handled differently.
- If the painter asks for it, offer constructive advice trouble-shooting the painter's challenges.
- End commentary on a positive note.