Gloria Foss has been a
dedicated plein aire artist for four decades. Every oil landscape she ever
created has been started out on location and finished in the studio. When she began
to teach, she vigorously discouraged her students' tendency to paint from photographs and
led them resolutely out to various locations on Oahu. As she said, "Only after
you've paid your dues in the sun, rain, wind, sand and maybe mud for years can you do a
beliveable painting from photographs."
Gloria saves time on
location, however, by applying two or three transparent washes (thinned with mineral
spirits) in a random pattern to the canvas while at home. This saves the extra time
it takes to cover all the white canvas when on location and, at the same time, cuts down
on the glare. She does not plan where the washes will go, but delights in leaving
unexpected jewel-like bits of color in the finished painting wherever possible.
