Why Plein Air?

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” Susan Ryan.

Plein air is a lot like dancing in the rain. The conditions are never going to be perfect. It is either going to be too hot or too cold or too windy or clouds will be threatening a storm or…..

But the plein air artist jumps in there and does their best to capture the scene or better yet, their feelings about the scene. It’s often a good idea to bring an umbrella!

Nothing can replace the smells and sights of working on location. Yes, you can take photos and work back in the studio. But relying on a cyclops vision of the world is going to severely limit your vision. Sketches and studies from the location are good and these are a lot more reliable than the one-eyed camera. But I think most artists will agree that nothing is like working alla prima plein air. The feel of canvas or high quality paper and brush and pigment and sun (or moon if you are doing a nocturne) just can’t be replaced by any kind of experience in the studio. The more you do it, the easier it becomes.

One of my favorite plein air experiences happened several years ago when I was painting in the early spring. It had been chilly but it was a warm day. I had worn many layers of clothing to stay warm but had shed the heavy layers. The sun was warm. My friend Deb and I were working on landscapes of the Eastern Alaska Range. The valley was covered with the subtle reddish hues of birch and aspen trees contrasting against the dark green spruce. I was working on washes of color and experimenting to try and capture the play of colors. I remember looking up from my painting and realized that everything had changed. A new soft green hue was all over the valley. I had just witnessed the tree buds opening up to reveal their green leaves!

Painting plein air gives you an excellent excuse to study and enjoy the landscape. You’ll see more and more details, colors, textures and will enjoy the outdoors more than ever. When you are beginning with plein air, don’t make the goal to complete a finished painting, instead focus on really seeing and improving your observation skills. All the sights, sounds and smells will translate into better paintings.