En Plein Air

  This year I am exploring painting en plein air -"in the open air".

During the 19th century, when painting light became important to several schools of artists, there was a surge in the number of artists painting outdoors. Monet, Pissaro, Renoir, and other impressionists all advocated painting on the spot and the invention of tubed paints freed up artists from having to grind all their own pigments on the spot, causing an explosion in popularity. In America the plein air tradition is going strong and with new designs of portable easels and pochade boxes it is easier than ever to pack up your paints and head for the great outdoors. I made my own pochade box last month.

                                    

                                                           Painters painting painters painting outdoors.....huh?

                              

                                                               

But lest you think that all is sweetness and light, check out this hilarious (but so true) video made by a plein air artist during a painting excursion in the Sierra Nevada Mts - http://blip.tv/lipking/adventures-in-plein-air-painting-1438969

Regardless of the mayhem that may result, I will be out there and writing about it in future posts.