Rana Geralis was born in the beautiful countryside of Lynchburg, Virginia, near the Blue Ridge Mountains. She was exposed to the beauty of nature at a very early age. Being a lover of the great outdoors, Rana is primarily an outdoor painter. She often enters Plein Air competitions in and around Maryland throughout the year. "Plein Air" painting comes from the French term, "en plein air" which means "in open air" and the artist works outside to capture the essence, natural light, and movement of the subject matter.
She is currently teaching classes at the Yellow Barn in Glen Echo of Potomac, Maryland. Rana is a member of the Art League in The Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Virginia.
Rana's Plein Air Painting Process, In Her Own Words
Step 1: Visualizing and Establishing the Composition
Before beginning a painting, I take a moment to visualize the scene on the blank panel. Rather than sketching or drawing, I focus on responding to what I see, imagining the composition, shapes, and values directly on the surface. This intuitive, direct approach allows me to stay connected to the moment and the essence of the scene.
Step 2: Blocking in Shapes with a Palette Knife
I begin painting immediately, using a palette knife to block in the major shapes and masses. Working with a limited palette of three to six colors, I mix a range of hues directly on the palette to create harmonious tones. In this stage, I focus on capturing the overall structure and relationships within the composition, keeping my marks bold and expressive.
Step 3: Building Layers and Responding to the Scene
As the painting develops, I layer colors and refine the forms, embracing the impasto painting process to build rich, tactile surfaces. The palette knife enables dynamic textures and confident edges. The process is fluid, driven by the interaction between the evolving painting and the landscape in front of me.
Painting Process and Time Frame
I typically work alla prima, a technique where the painting is completed in one session while the paint is still wet. This approach suits my direct and intuitive style, allowing me to stay fully immersed in the process and respond to the scene in real-time. Most of my paintings take about two to three hours to complete. Working quickly helps me capture the fleeting light, atmosphere, and energy of the moment, especially when painting outdoors.
Stay Connected
To see more of Rana's work and process, visiti our online shop and follow her on instagram @ranageralis. Her website is at ranageralis.com.