A Quiet Morning

 I was late when I arrived at downtown San Angelo on October 25. Most of the artists there had already engaged their painting project a while ago, but I have a complete blank in my mind. I drove around several blocks, but I still could not decide what to paint. Finally I ended up to a location quite far away from the iconic downtown area. I did this small oil sketch. The scene is a little too empty, but the geometric design wasn't too bad. The lighting was pretty good, but it moved too fast. I think the true spirit of plein air painting is maintaining cool when you know you are completely out of control.

Gallery Verde

 Painting figures has been my dream, and it is still my dream. I hope my life is long enough and this dream can be fulfilled. I am taking baby steps. First I want paint figures as a part of landscapes. I don't have to work on details. I just need to suggest and let viewers to fill the blanks. 

Gallery Verde is located in downtown San Angelo, Texas. It is the meeting place of the En Plein Air Texas painting competition. I am very fortunate to attend this event. I am looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new friends. 

Blooming Cactus

 

I went camping again. The location was San Angelo State Park. The cactus were blooming. It is not surprising seeing cactus of course, I have been living in Texas for more than twenty years. However, it is my first time seeing so many of them, and they are blooming so beautifully. I don't think this plein air painting capture that beauty, but I have tried.

"Lake Brownwood State Park1"

Over the weekend, our family camped at the Lake Brownwood State Park. I did 3 plein air paintings. This probably my very first plein air painting outside of my house since the pandemic started. I felt rusty, but I have gradually gained momentum. The park was so quiet. The entire camp site had only 3 sites occupied. We have enjoyed very much the beautiful tranquility.

"Water Lilies in Blue"

I manipulated the color of a photo I took in Monet's Garden in France a couple of years ago. I want the scene has a dominant color tone. Might be I over did the color shifting, and the image starts to look like a nocturne. I did a small painting to see the effect. This is a preparation for a future large painting

"Peaceful Living"

I did quite a few paintings at Easton, and this is the last one I want to show. I did this one for Rich Carroll. He was my host family during my Easton days. Rich lives in the country surrounded by beautiful trees and corn fields. I had superb time with him and enjoyed every moment chatting with him. Having a peaceful living is my dream. My off-the-grid project approaches this dream gradually. I hope someday I don't need to paint for money. I will have a Sustainable, Green, Harmonious, Peaceful, and Happy life. Ladies and Gentlemen, please wish me luck.

I am heading to China tomorrow, and I will try to post something during this international travel, but in case it is too difficult, I wish you all the best for the month of September.

"Anne and Phil's Barn"

This is a small painting I did for my host family Anne and Phil Graham. I really appreciate they offered their lovely home for us to stay during the Wayne Plein Air Festival. Anne is a excellent portrait artist. Please check her website: http://www.annegrahamportraits.com. You will be amazed what you see.

"Austin in Twilight Zone" --- Available

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I have managed and painted a few paintings between my teaching trips. I did this one from a photo taken by one of my wife's friends. Austin has changed significantly these a few years.

"Lake Travis - Demo in Austin 3"

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This is my 3rd demo on my Austin plein air painting workshop. We went Oasis (a wonderful restaurant by Lake Travis). I painted this one on the balcony facing the big lake. It was a very cold day. The wind was strong and raining too. We had to go inside to get warm and then come out painting, back and forth quite a few times. Oasis was very kind to us, and allow all of us painting inside the restaurant in the afternoon.

This painting is available at: https://www.dailypaintworks.com/fineart/qiang-huang/lake-travis-demo-in-austin-3/715789

"Jerom"

Jerom is small mining town not far from Sedona. Somehow this place reminds me Tuscany Italy. It was another raining day. I painted this one in the parking lot of Jerom Museum.

"Demo in Tuscany 2018 1 - 2"

After my workshop in Paris, I did another one in Tuscany Italy. The scenery in Tuscany is absolutely beautiful. These are two demo paintings I did in the first day.

"Demo at Sedona 2017 2" --- Sold

After the Plein Air Festival in Sedona in October, I taught a three day plein air painting workshop. This is the second demo I did. This year is really my landscape year. I have done much more plein air paintings than I have ever done. However, I just start to realize how immature I am as a landscape painter. A long learning curve is right in front of me.

"Demo at Lijiang 2017"

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After left Shaxi, we have moved on to a famous city in Yunnan: Lijiang. The city has been commercialized too much. There are too many shops and too many people. This painting was done at a park call the Helongtan Park. I forgot to bring any mineral spirit, and I had to paint directly with out of tube colors. So I was not able to use my wipe-out technique. With many dry marks, the painting has an unusual look. Plein air painting is just like life, we try to be prepared, but there is always something unexpected will happen. We are out of control, but have to deal with whatever happens as much as we can, The result can be surprising, but not always bad.

"Demo at Fiesole Italy 2017 03" --- Sold

I am so excited coming to Italy teaching my very first workshop in Europe. This is my 3rd plein air painting at Fiesole near Florence. I want to thank Debra and Ivano of Artensity for organizing this workshop and thanks to all artists from Brazil, Germany, Switzerland, and USA for coming and painting with me. I am so impressed by the rich culture here at Florence. This is a new milestone in my art career. I am so happy.