Plein air painting was
popular in the United
States
in the early part of the 1900's and has seen a real revival in the past few
decades. This style of painting was popularized by the French
Impressionists of the latter part of the 1800's. They painted outside,
recording in all kinds of weather, the world around them as was visible in the
fleeting light of that day. There were no digital cameras to record the moment.
Some artists were able to complete a work of art in one sitting, they called
this (Alla Prima), others would return to the same spot at the precise time of
day when the lighting was the same as the day the painting was started.
The
great masters in Europe's 1800's took
full advantage of fleeting colors of light in attempts to capture atmospheric conditions
before they could change too much. This caused there brush stroke and painting surface
to appear rushed and shorthand like. The colors and strokes blended optically to
create a impression of the landscape. The paintings were so colorful and beautiful
that young artists in the U.S.,
Russia and all over Europe traveled to study this new way of painting.
When you paint plein air,
take in all the colors nature is throwing at you. Absorb as much information as
possible and edit out the frivolous and only paint what is truly important. Simplify
and focus on harmonious relationships for stronger paintings. Observe carefully! Minimize the
minimal and maximize the maximal!
