It was a little bit of a hike in the new snow today to get where I wanted to paint.

It's a location I have walked occasionally for a couple years always looking over my shoulder, squinting, walking backwards, picking which angle would I try to capture sometime.What time of season should I come back and paint?

Well today was the day.

And I didn't even want to go out painting today. I have enough work going inside. But I knew I will need to go out this month and even though it was cold, it was sunny and not much wind and it was probably the best day for a Massachusetts February study outside.

My attitude is I am just going to start.

I could see here at this point, that I could get a good study if I just dug in and kept trying to get closer to the view. The view is of sweeping fields down to the largest marsh on Cape Cod-Scorton Creek.

This is where Native Americans lived sometimes I am told and I know this is true. The water is brackish and there are blue crabs, rabbits, deer and who knows what. I brought my iPod but the birds where so active that I just wanted to listen to the Canadian Geese, Hawks, Blue jays and then the stillness.

This is where I stop. I caught it and even though there is more to do, and some awkward areas this is where I want to leave it, with work yet to do on it. This makes it easy to step back into it and work on it at home. Years ago I read that Earnest Hemingway always did this with his daily writing and I stole this habit for my daily painting.

When I went out painting on location October, November and December of 2015, I had so much fun hiking around various locations, that I promised myself I would keep it going once a month throughout 2016 no matter what.

My philosophy is- it is all about the subject. I will do whatever it takes to get a study done or at least started outside. Paintings that are started outside have certain qualities that studio work cannot possess. There is a rawness, a freshness and sense of urgency that is are wonderful qualities to achieve in your paintings.

There are other reasons to go outside to paint regularly and I will get into those advantages also.

For my January study I went back to the beach with my paints and my notes, where it is absolutely beautiful any time of year. If there is a sure thing in painting, coming to a place like this- is it.

When you are painting on location- you just try to be a very good observer. This is not the time to make any part of your subject up. This is the time to get true colors mixed, true lines drawn and the true mood for your day down on canvas. Working quickly, get your paint down super fast before the key elements change. Because the sun moves, the light changes and at any time someone will pull up and say hey you can’t paint here!

This painting shown is just a start and it came out great. I start them fast outside, and finish them slow in the studio. Getting my paints outside in January is just how I wanted to start the year.

Discipline.

I am checking my oil paints and staining my boards in preparation to head out into the wilds.

Being uncomfortable painting on- location is my comfort zone and I plan to be very uncomfortable in 2016.

It's easy to paint on location during the warmer seasons and I did just that in 2015. The sun was shining, the wind was gentle and the paintings came easy and quickly. The best part of these experiences was how well my dog adjusted to me painting on-location. He stayed by easel each time, without any prompting and I love him even more for this.

So when people comment about how well he behaves while I work at various locals, I smile and act like I have been training him for months to stay by my side while I work.

Going over the gear for on-location work is very important. This is my 1# rule. I check and re-check my supplies before I rush off to paint. Rule 2#  rule which I always share with my students is to never, ever wipe out or judge a piece while still outside. Your work will always look stronger in the studio. 

It's the end of December and the end of the year 2015. It's cold, damp and cloudy here in Massachusetts and the days are short. The time to actually have the light to paint outside is limited now for the next few months. To me, this is the time of year to get the soft winter edges,  the bare trees and cool notes of wintertime. It makes me think of that great Steve Miller song and I get inspired to build my fire in the studio wood stove, for when I come back. I'll pack my supplies, load up the Jeep with my Benny-Boy and go get cold.

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Sign up for the newsletter and you will access the ongoing painting on-location bonus material that I will write about and share here monthly. Who knows what's going to happen! I know what's going to happen... I am going trespassing,  I am going to go where the views are great and get the studies done, no matter what it takes.