Mike Hernandez, gouache plein air demo at Garland Ranch Park, Carmel Valley, CA (with me lurking in the background)

It was a great pleasure to meet Mike Hernandez, and see firsthand how he captures natural scenes in the wild despite wind, insects, rapidly changing lighting conditions, and all the usual challenges faced by plein air painters. Here's a terrific forested scene depicting me (!) trying my best to get the paint down beside a brook under a canopy of branches.

I'm amazed at his ability to simplify complex subjects and infuse them with harmonious color notes and strong compositions.

Mike is a great teacher as well, and one of the few painters I've found who regularly produces outstanding gouache (opaque water coler) paintings out in the elements.

Thanks for taking a look!