The Amish Farm
Shipshewana, Indiana
Painted in the heart of Amish country, it’s not always easy to work on location as Roger finds out whan a large dust devil sweeps through the area blowing easels and equipment into the air. Despite the setbacks the painting continues. Roger talks about the influences of warm and cool lights on the side of the barn with the ever changing light. The importance of adding a few simple strokes of intense yellow-greens on the fields are explained which complete the painting. Sarah visits a large outdoor market in Shipshewana where she talks with an Amish man about their lifestyle.
Mississippi River
Natchez, Mississippi
In the early morning hours, Roger sets up his easel on the banks of the Mississippi where the panoramic format of the painting is chosen to fit the vista. The focus is on creating atmosphere and a feeling of distance in the piece and how to achieve it in this simple yet challenging subject. Sarah walks around Natchez, spends time in Memphis on the famous Beal Street and later tours the 16 miles of roads at the Vicksburg National Military Park.
St. Augustine Lighthouse
St. Augustine, Florida
Roger paints on location using acrylics and a limited palette of primary colors. He shows how to use tape to make a clean edge on the lighthouse in order to blend the light and shadows without interfering with the background sky. Roger also explains a technique for achieving the onvincing texture on the buildings shingles. Sarah walks up the 219 steps to the top of the lighthouse and goes inside the huge Fresnel lens.