Plein air painting is an adventure:
It has a beginning, middle, and end
It has challenges and rewards
It crafts relics and fond memories
This is why plein air teaches you so much, and makes you grow.
Every plein air session begins with an idea:
A need for artistic expression
A desire to get outside, into nature
A scene worth capturing
A moment to share
That’s where your adventure starts.
Your plein air quest has interactions:
You witness natural beauty
You see wild plants and animals
You deal with curious admirers
You face the elements of weather
Plein air is the medium for these interactions.
Every plein air session begins with an idea:
A need for artistic expression
A desire to get outside, into nature
A scene worth capturing
A moment to share
That’s where your adventure starts.
Your plein air quest has interactions:
You witness natural beauty
You see wild plants and animals
You deal with curious admirers
You face the elements of weather
Plein air is the medium for these interactions.
Painting outside is a challenge:
The light changes fast
Time is always against you
It’s too windy, cold, hot, buggy, or dry
You get thirsty, hungry, tired, frustrated
The painting might not go how you want
These challenges test your endurance.
But plein air offers many rewards:
You solve painting problems
You practice composition, value, and color
You improve observation
You simplify, work fast, and stay loose
You embrace a mindset of constraints
And this leads to your artistic growth.
And at the end of your session:
You produce a painting relic
You capture a memory
You overcome challenges
You learn lessons
You forge memories that last
This makes each session an adventure.
So remember…
The beginning idea and inspiration
The middle challenges and interactions
The ending rewards and memories
Get out there. Enjoy plein air.
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