Winter painting | amccarthyart

Soo Cold & Plein on SoCo

December 10, 2011

So Co Cold.. But I still want to paint the hustle & bustle of our Winter season here in Austin.

Winter painting comes with many challenges. Most importantly COLD!

SoCo Skyline

Our winter in a damp cold this season. It seeps past the layers of socks and denim to wick away what body heat is left after the warmer temps have fled. It has definitely set in full force here with high temps in the 50’s for the past week, not to mention the wind. No, I don’t adapt to cold very well. Our summers are in the triple digits, I can tolerate being hot. But being cold is just plane miserable. Yes. I have figured out how to mostly stay warm when I’m out. mostly. But cold toes are Miserable. The damp always finds it’s way to my poor toes, even with wool socks. So I can only bare painting for most of an hour. After that’s its just torture.

Secondly, the lighting effects caused by hazy winter sky’s (which make it colder too). Natural light reflects differently from sunny afternoons and colors appear to be more muted in the haze, but warmer in contrast to the cool winter light. Which means adjusting my palette to accurately record what I see, when I’m out on sight.

SoCo Colors

This morning’s paint outing with Plein Air Austin was one of our local favorite spots.
SoCo! in Austin.

South Congress offers eclectic shopping in vibrant little shops sprinkled with unique artisan tents and colorful food trailers. One of a kind shops like BigTop, Turquoise Door, Continental Club, Austin Boots and more.

SoCo overlooks the state capital building and downtown skyline below the river. It is a popular tourist attraction and favorite place to shop for many Austinites.

Today’s painting pic was a popular spot on a cold morning: JO’S. Another great example of Austin’s charm and colorful buildings