artspan contemporary art
Artspan Portal: Plein Air Painting
Introduction to Plein Air Painting
Plein air painting is landscape painting in the "open air." While the act of painting outdoors was hardly new, it was not until the advent of the Impressionists that moving out of the studio and painting en plein air became an accepted style of landscape painting. Plein air painting is characterized by less detail and the plein air painters' desire to capture the fleeting moment. Plein air landscape painters believe they are much better able to convey the light and atmosphere outdoors than traditional landscape painters can in the studio. An important corollary development was the new form of packaging of paints in tubes, making it possible to easily transport paints to wherever the plein air artist chose. Contemporary plein air painting continues to be very popular, particularly in the United States. Associations, typically located in coastal regions and the southwest, organize Paint Outs or other excursions where artists get together and travel to a location to paint en plein air. This tends to make plein air painting one of the more social art forms. Given the need to work quickly and without repeated passes of the brush, plein air landscapes are typically spontaneous, fresh and bold in feeling and look.Featured Members
Newest Work
Resources: Plein Air Painting
Associations (see all)
- International Society of Acrylic Painters
-
Oldsmar, Florida
To be a vehicle for collective exhibitions, which aim to promote the... - Plein Air Austin
-
Austin, TX
A group of artists, in and around Austin, who paint together on location... - Plein Air New Mexico
-
Sante Fe, NM
A group organized to promote plein air painting in New Mexico and to bring...
Books (see all)
- The Elements of Drawing
- John Ruskin's The Elements of Drawing, first published in 1857, remains one of the most sensible...
Education (see all)
- Colorado State University
-
Fort Collins, Co
MFA in Painting - Maryland Institute College of Art: Hoffberger School of Painting
-
Baltimore, Md
MFA in Painting - Rhode Island School of Design
-
Providence, Ri
MFA in Painting
Education (see all)
- University of Massachussetts Dartmouth
-
North Dartmouth, Ma
MFA in Painting
Galleries (see all)
- 9 Avenue Gallery
-
Chico, CA
A place for art and conversation with a wide variety of Plein Air paintings. - Peregrine Galleries
-
Santa Barbara, Ca
Presents fine paintings by major plein air artists.Also featuring antique... - The Redfern Gallery
-
Laguna Beach, CA
Specializes in American Impressionism with an emphasis on paintings by the...
Publications (see all)
- The Plein Air Scene
- Reports on all of the plein-air painting news in California, as well as some out-of-state goings on.
- Fine Art Connoisseur
- Formerly Plein Air Magazine, engages enthusiasts and fine-art collectors with in-depth editorial...
- American Artist
- Devoted to the realism in art and excellence in their medium, whether oil paint, watercolor,...