Plein Air Painting, Anyone?

13 August 2020

I’m a fair weather plein air painter. I know that is blasphemy for me to say that as an artist, but it’s true.

I was plein air painting in Chincoteague, VA, a few years back. En plein air is French for in the outdoors. The Impressionists painted outdoors, capturing their “impressions” of a particular location and its light.

You can always take a photograph of a scene. This is great and I often do, but it is just an inspiration for your art to come. Plus, it has none of your personality.

Anyway, Chincoteague is a beautiful and serene location. So, I got up early (not a typical thing for me to do) and drove out to do some plein air painting in the early misty morning. I tried so hard to sit and capture this moment with my pastels. Nature just would not cooperate. Between the 99% humidity of June and the million mosquitoes flying directly at my face, I found it was hard to sit calmly, quietly in the moment and sketch. The mosquitoes were making it impossible for me.

Instead, I sought sanctuary in my air conditioned car with the windows rolled up. Ahhh, peace and sketching at last…

“Chincoteague from the Car” – Pastel

I do love sitting in nature sketching… but often it’s from the comfort of my car.

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