Fleeting sights on canvas

The challenge of capturing the view in less than two hours is one which thrills Halls Head artist Jos Coufreur, who every day in January painted the sights of Mandurah.

The plein air artist said he loved the challenge of trying to get the paint onto the canvas before the light changed.

Coufreur has been an artist since he was a child, starting with drawing, graphic design and then moving onto portraiture, but discovered plein air two years ago.

Coufreur said he wanted to practise to improve his technique, so crafted a mobile set-up he could carry in a backpack around the Peel area and on overseas adventures to Europe.

"The box means I can work on it and put it away and let it dry without getting ruined," he said.

"It's a challenge to capture the moment.

"The sky is beautiful, but an hour later, it's gone.

"I like painting buildings and people in Smart Street Mall more than landscapes.

"Mandurah Terrace is my favourite place."

Coufreur said the challenge of painting every day in Janu- ary was a vast improvement on what he had created in Decem- ber 2014 when he attempted the feat.

"I've had someone, if not a few, from the Mandurah Plein Air group with me every day," he said.

"It's been good practice for the Crab Fest competition."

Coufreur said he painted on board or canvas about 20cm x 40cm in size and used oils because the heat made working with acrylics too hard.