Many artists turn to nature for inspiration, some going so far as to paint and create out among the elements. “En plein air,” a French term that translates to “outdoors,” refers to a centuries-old tradition of painting outside of a studio.
Until the mid-1800s, most artists’ paints were mixed by hand in the studio and were not easily portable. With the invention of the collapsible paint tube in 1841, artists were soon able to transport their paints and canvases to any location that could support an easel. The landscapes soon poured into the Grand Salons of the world as artists studied light and color amongst the trees, hills, and vistas.
Van Gogh wrote often about painting en plein air, roaming the French countryside and capturing the idyllic views with his keen eye for color. In a letter to his brother, Van Gogh remarked, “I painted a study on the beach. There are some sea walls or breakwaters…I sat on one and painted the rising tide until it came so close that I had to pack up my things.”
Several of our own artists paint directly from nature. Read on to learn how they interpret light and form differently in their landscapes.
Baltimore-area painter and 2021Plein Air Easton Award Winner, John Brandon Sills captures the hills, barns, and waterways of Maryland with a stunning grasp of light and color. “In my plein air work, I try to capture the essence of an experience, hoping to express the vitality of nature in brushstroke and color,” says the artist. As the painting above illustrates, Sills beautifully transfers the sense of light, depth, and even heat so well that we find ourselves squinting at the sunlight pouring from the canvas in this rendition of a local barn.
Enraptured by the American Tonalism movement that arose in the late Nineteenth century, Dennis Sheehan utilizes contrast to capture moments of transition in nature: dawn, dusk, storms, and seasonal changes. Sheehan explains, “My goal isto have the painting emanate light. This is why the areas of shadow are so important, for it is from them that this emanation proceeds.” Indeed, these paintings are more like windows to some distant field, uncannily familiar and utterly calm.
Inspired by the transcendent surroundings of his home in the American West, Noice captures the landscapes—particularly foliage—with a playful use of vibrant color. Having mastered both oil paint and pastel, many of his painting titles reflect the places and local nature he portrays so well. In this painting, his painterly brushstrokes transport the viewer to a shady copse of trees, at once titillated by the leaves and soothed by the balanced trees.
“Plein-air” is French for “open air.” (“plein” is pronounced like “plain.”) So plein-air painting simply mean going outside to paint. “Plein-air” is a funny little phrase I thought no one used anymore until I learned what it meant a while back. Now, I hear people, mostly artists, using it all the time.
plein-air painting, in its strictest sense, the practice of painting landscape pictures out-of-doors; more loosely, the achievement of an intense impression of the open air (French: plein air) in a landscape painting.
Oil colors are the classic plein air painting medium, the one preferred by artists like Monet and Renoir, and the one most frequently thought of when considering the subject.
French impressionist painters such as Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir advocated plein air painting, and much of their work was done outdoors in the diffuse light of a large white umbrella.
Some plein air paintings can be finished on location – taking only a matter of hours, while others require us to return to the same spot for several days. Finishing, however, is not a requirement or necessarily the best practice for outdoor painting. Most professional artists don't even sell their plein air work.
By the mid-1880s, Monet had largely moved away from the Impressionist practice of finishing a painting from nature, instead preferring to complete his paintings in the studio. In the instance of this painting, it is thought that Monet began painting en plein air, before adding the final touches of detail in his studio.
Changing Light - The best times for beginner plein-air painters is (in my opinion) between 11am and 3pm. The sun is high in the sky and the light changes aren't as drastic. Morning and evening light is the most beautiful and dramatic, but changes very quickly and can be frustrating.
The answer is simple: no painting done from a photo can ever compare to the energy, immediacy, and sense of place that can come through in a plein air piece. Somehow the feel of the day, be it heat or cold or wind or just a perfectly pleasant morning, makes its way down the arm and off the brush and onto the canvas.
noun. the open air, especially the daylight of outdoors. Fine Arts. the quality of light and atmosphere out of doors, especially this quality as rendered in painting.
Did you know that the invention of the collapsible metal paint tube in the 19th century, allowing artists to keep their oil paints both fresh and portable, made it possible for the Impressionists to pursue painting en plein air, or outdoors?
However, abstract art is also considered by some to be the most challenging due to the lack of rules and definitions. To me, abstract art is defined by the overall feel achieved by the painting and I certainly appreciate the talent of those able to create great abstract art.
Realism is one of the most impressive forms of art, which is why plenty of artists take up the style. It's particularly hard to perfect and takes a significant amount of practice, but here's beginners can start learning how to draw realistic art straight away.
Acrylic is typically the easiest for beginners, while watercolor is the hardest. However, if you hate working with acrylic, don't force yourself to paint it just because it's easier.
Introduction: My name is Tyson Zemlak, I am a excited, light, sparkling, super, open, fair, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
