A very quick plein air sketch done in our backyard in Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 23, 2004.

Greens are my weakest color, so the challenge here was to explore the many hues of green. To make the green lantern stand out against all that foliage, I had to pay attention to changes in color temperature, and keep my edges defined.

Since this was done close to home, I worked very informally on a table. I could have used an umbrella, because my liquid acrylics in their little plastic bottles were bursting from the midday heat, exploding on me every time I opened them. I'm usually a very neat painter, but came back from this session covered in pigment. Mosquitoes were also a problem, which is why the lamp is burning citronella oil.

I like using watercolor canvas, because it allows me to use thinned acylics like watercolors, but I can also punch it up with thicker paint as the piece progresses.