What is Plein Air Painting?

What does Plein Air Painting Mean?

The term "en plein air" was used during Claude Monet's time and the Impressionists who would take their easels outside and paint in nature, or out in the open "en plein air". With  the invention of encasing oil paints  in transportable tubes this made outdoor painting possible.

A few of the reasons painters enjoy plein air painting over studio painting is the ability to connect with nature directly rather than working from photographs. They enjoy the spontaneity and even the challenges that are presented while out in nature. Like, the change of weather conditions, the fleeting light, the shifting shadows, and even the movement of there subject if they're trying to capture a scene with people, cars, or other transportation add to 

Over the past 10 years, the plein air painting movement has become very popular not just in the US but around the world. There are many more groups that gather together both locally and nationally as well as competitions and an annual conference. If you are curious and want to know more about plein air painting. Here's a link to a very extensive website called Outdoor Painter.com

For artists who want to learn to paint outdoors this website has online lessons. https://paintoutside.com

Below is a wonderful documentary about plein air painting called "Outside the Lines" - link here

For those of you who love watching the creative process, I encourage you to check out the plein air events or "Paint outs" that are scheduled near you. 

If you're in Connecticut there are several groups that go out to paint together in different counties. And there is the Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society, CPAPS - that has been around for 25 years. 

Due to the current situation with COVID-19 happening no CPAPS paint outs are scheduled at this moment. Also the leadership is changing hands. Our past president has stepped down from the leadership position and I have accepted the presidency! 

So soon we will get things up and running with some new ideas and events are in the planning stages right now. 

Here's the website: https://www.cpaps.org

For any of my plein air painter friends: Please send me an email message to let me know if you are interested in helping out and are interested in being apart of the new and exciting things coming up for our group.  

Many of the CPAPS events are open to the public and will be listed on the website please check the site for more information.

Happy Painting!

Linda
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