Farmland

8x10"
Pastel on 300 lb paper

Tomorrow will be my first plein air session
with PAPO (Plein Air Painter's of the Ozarks).
So, today I did a dress rehearsal
to make sure I have all of the supplies that
I will need for the paint out.
The weather is supposed to be sunny and in
the 70's. The park we will be painting
is lovely at this time of year. So it
should be a good day of painting and fellowship
with other area artists.

Here is a little history about En Plein Air.

Plein Air (French for "open air") painting became popular
in the early nineteenth century in both
Europe and America when paint manufacturers
made a wide range of pre-mixed oil pigments
available for the first time, and the easily transportable
box easel, or pochade (quick sketch) box,
was developed. Artists could finally take their
work into the field with ease. The artist could, as Monet wrote,
" paint the air in which are situated the bridge, the home, the boat."

These artists paint natural light, using color to define form.
Plein Air artists generally paint "ala prima,"
laying down a scene with quick broad,
colorful brush strokes, foregoing the
typical 'building up' of paint. Depending on the
light and weather, Plein Air paintings are
generally done in one session. Artists often
add final touches to their work once back in the studio.