So what is my painting process?

SANGEETHA GOPALAKRISHNAN

As a plein-air (meaning ‘outside’) painter, I do full paintings or studies on location. It is the best way to capture the mood, light, colors smell and even the taste of the air at the location you are painting. Plus, painting in a studio from photos is BORING!! You will immediately feel the difference in such paintings compared to those done all from photos inside a studio.

Artist painting landscape outdoors with dog nearby
Person painting a landscape on a rocky hillside, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, with a small dog in the distance and mountainous terrain in the background.
A painting of snow-covered mountains on an easel, set against a backdrop of actual snowy mountains and a cloudy sky.
A painted canvas depicting a mountain range in front of a real mountain landscape, with a blue car and road in the foreground.

I dayhike or backpack on trails with my dog Ginger to paint the moments that capture me. I am most attracted to the play of light and shadow, the beautiful atmospheric effects and the scenes that others don’t see. I always have a backpack with my travel painting gear in my car ready to go. I carry a pochade box for holding the canvas and palette, very limited paint tubes (white and just the three primary colors - Cadmium-free red, Hansa yellow and Ultramarine blue) and a tripod. I keep it super light.

Close-up of a painter’s palette with mixed colors of paint and a brush.

As an advocate for sustainable living, I create art without toxic chemicals used commonly in modern art-making—no Gamsol, harsh varnishes and mediums. I don’t use any carcinogenic heavy-metal-based paints like Cadmium, Cobalt, Lead, etc in my studio or outdoors.

A person painting a mountain landscape on a canvas in front of a window with natural light.

I paint larger pieces in the studio from the smaller panels and sketchbook studies I do outdoors, as seen here.

Painting of a dog on a patio with the real dog outside, seen through glass door, sitting on patio furniture in a sunny backyard.

Here is a painting done on location of my dog Ginger at my house. She had no idea!!! :D

Person hanging landscape painting on wall near staircase and houseplant.
A curly-haired dog sitting on a wooden floor next to an easel with a landscape painting. Art supplies are on a nearby dark cabinet.
Collection of various landscape paintings and abstract art pieces on a wooden surface.