Plein air painting session in San Pablo, Laguna, Philippines

Plein air painting is a style of painting that involves creating artwork outdoors, directly from the subject in its natural environment. The term “plein air” is French for “open air.” This approach allows artists to capture the essence of natural light, colors, and atmosphere firsthand, as opposed to working from photographs or sketches in a studio.

Plein air painting gained popularity in the mid-19th century, particularly with the Impressionist movement, as artists sought to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. Artists like Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Camille Pissarro were known for their plein air techniques.

Today, plein air painting remains popular among artists who enjoy working directly from nature. It allows them to observe and interpret the landscape or scene in real time, capturing the nuances of light and shadow, as well as the mood and atmosphere of the surroundings. It can be a challenging yet rewarding practice, requiring quick observation, decisive brushwork, and adaptability to changing conditions. (Source: ChatGPT)

When sir Lito Ballaran, my friend and watercolor mentor, mentioned he was hosting an en plein air painting session in his hometown of San Pablo, Laguna, I sent him and his wife a quick message expressing my keen interest in joining. You see, Lito had been my go-to mentor for watercolor portrait painting back in February last year, and man, did I pick up some invaluable skills during those sessions. Given how rare it is for him to offer classes, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to soak up more knowledge from him.

So, instead of sticking to portraits this time, we got to switch things up and tackle painting subjects right in their natural habitat in San Pablo City. It was a refreshing change of pace, and I was all in for the chance to learn how to capture the essence of the great outdoors under sir Lito’s guidance.

Geologically speaking, San Pablo, Laguna, which lies immediately south of Laguna Lake (a caldera), is known for its maar lakes and scoria cones. These maar lakes and scoria cones were products of violent volcanic eruptions hundreds of years ago with Sampaloc Lake being the youngest, whose eruption was 500-700 years ago based on studies. Read more about it here (with list of references): https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=273060. If you’ve known me for a while, you’d know how much I love integrating art in science and vice versa. For me, joining the class was also an opportunity to teach my kids about the geologic history of this part of the Philippines and how not all volcanoes would look like the pictures in their books.

To journey to San Pablo Laguna, we hopped on a Jac Liner bus departing from Kamias, Quezon City. It was an early start for the kids and me, waking up at the crack of dawn, 3:30 AM to be exact, to catch the 4 AM bus. Despite the ungodly hour, we found ourselves rolling into San Pablo by half past 6:00 AM.

Master Lito, being the gracious host that he is, generously offered to pick us up from the highway and escort us to the venue, Casa San Pablo. We checked in, and my kids and I settled for a bit. After settling in, we eagerly awaited the arrival of our fellow classmates, one of whom had journeyed all the way from Mindanao!

First Day of Plein Air Painting Lesson

So, on day one of our class, Master Lito decided to kick things off with painting human figures in watercolors. We had a few classmates who were total newbies to watercolor, so master Lito had to start from scratch, covering all the basics of the medium.

Now, you might wonder why human figures were on the agenda. Well, here’s the scoop: in the Philippines, when you’re painting outdoors, chances are you’ll have some folks milling about in your scene, whether it’s by a lake, a church, or wherever. Master Lito figured it’d be handy for us to know how to paint these figures because they can add some serious drama and life to a landscape. And hey, he wasn’t wrong!

So, once we wrapped up our human figure practice sketches using some reference pictures snapped by the one and only Master Lito, it was time to refuel. We swung by Casa San Pablo’s restaurant to grab some grub, and let me tell you, it was the perfect opportunity to get to know everyone a bit better. We shot the breeze over lunch, chatting away as we dug into some good eats.

With our bellies full, it was back to business. We strolled out to Casa’s garden to scout out the perfect spot to unleash our artistic prowess. As for me, I had my eye on this sweet gazebo nestled in the garden—check out the pic below:

One key takeaway from day 1 was all about picking the subject to paint and keeping it simple. When you’re out in the wild painting, things can get really overwhelming if you’re trying to capture every little detail. So, learning to dial it back a bit was key.

And let’s talk light—super crucial, especially when you’re painting outdoors. That sun’s always on the move, messing with your shadows and highlights. So, we paid close attention to how Master Lito tackled it all. Watching him mix up colors for the background, middle ground, and foreground was a real eye-opener. Plus, he showed us how to nail down those tricky bits where the light hits just right. It was all about soaking up those pro techniques.

Day 2 of Plein Air Painting

On the second day of our plein air painting class, we traveled to Sampaloc Lake, the largest and most recently formed volcanic maar lake in the area, to put into practice the techniques we acquired on Day 1. The subject for the painting was anything in the vicinity of and above the lake.

Upon arrival, we were immediately struck by the pristine condition of the shoreline and the breathtaking scenery that unfolded before us. The tranquil ambiance was accentuated by the presence of local fishermen navigating their boats and attending to their fish pens, engaged in lively conversations that echoed across the waters. Additionally, our gaze fell upon the delicate presence of algae adorning the shoreline, juxtaposed with the vibrant blooms of pink lily pads, adding an enchanting touch to the picturesque landscape. We also saw ripples in the water, indicating that the water was full of fish. We settled under the shade of ylang-ylang and “talisay” trees and set up our painting easel. We were asked by Master Lito to sketch a subject that we wanted to paint. For me, it was a tree right on the shore, with the lake and distant trees as the middle ground and background, respectively.

I acquired valuable insights into two pivotal aspects of painting en plein air: the art of rendering water reflections and capturing the distant backdrop of trees and sky. I was also happy when Master Lito commended my portrayal of distant trees, wherein accidental blooms serendipitously resembled the atmospheric presence of mist or fog.

Furthermore, under Master Lito’s guidance, I delved into the process of simplifying my sketches, encompassing the foreground, trees, and lily pads, aiming to craft an impressionistic output—a stylistic preference I hold dear over hyperrealism.

As for the whereabouts of my children during our painting escapade, they found themselves engrossed in their electronic devices, indulging in their favorite games—a rare allowance granted by me, given my usual strict stance on screen time. However, their occasional requests for snacks from passing vendors did serve as gentle distractions, a testament to the dynamic interplay between artistry and parental responsibilities. When in the Philippines, expect ambulant vendors to go near a group of people hoping to make a sale. I was happy to oblige them. Here are photos of the kids during day 2.

I’m also happy with how the day went because I spotted native trees and birds such as sunbirds and yellow vented bulbuls around the lake. Too bad they were too quick to fly off before I could take decent photos of them. After our lunch break, we went to Doña Leonila Park, about 5 minutes away from Sampaloc Lake by private car. In the park, we set up our easels inside a gazebo while we studied the features of Doña Leonila’s statue in the middle of the park. Master Lito then taught us how to paint the background trees and the figure. Here are some photos:

Doña Leonila was a local heroine in San Pablo who saved the people from starvation during World War II, according to sir Lito’s wife. She said Doña Leonila represented the main character of fellow Filipinos, which is resilience during hard times. After hearing this, I made sure that she was sketched nicely on my paper. Here’s my output:

Day 3 of Plein Air Painting

On the third day, we packed up bright and early from Casa San Pablo and made a beeline for Sulyap Art Gallery and Cafe. Let me tell you, stepping into this place feels like taking a trip back in time to the Spanish colonial era in the Philippines. The whole vibe just screams rustic charm, and I’m absolutely loving it!

But hey, don’t just take my word for it. I’ve got some snapshots from our visit that’ll let you see for yourself. Take a peek and decide what you think:

When it came time to pick a subject to paint, I went straight for the fountains. There was something about the play of light dancing off the concrete edges that really caught my eye. Despite the harsh and blazing sunlight, we lucked out with a shady spot under the main restaurant, where a cool breeze kept us comfortable. It was one of those rare days tailor-made for outdoor painting—just perfect!

And here’s my final output:

Those three days in San Pablo City, painting alongside my classmates and Master, were an absolute blast. If I had all the resources in the world, you can bet I’d be traveling far and wide, capturing scenes from every corner of the globe with my paintbrush.

There’s just something special about painting what I see. It’s a whole different level of satisfaction compared to snapping photos. It’s like each stroke carries a piece of the moment, infusing it with emotion and depth.

And to top it all off, as the day came to a close, I was treated to the delightful sight of yellow-vented bulbuls flitting about the bamboo trees in the garden. Here, take a peek at some of the photos I managed to snap of one:

Master Lito is holding another class next month, this time, basic portrait painting in watercolors. Here’s the poster for the said class:

Thank you for reading this far.

Cheers,