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Plein Air Peeks!
"Painting “en plein air” (in the open air) finds its classical roots in 19th century Europe. First with the realists, and later mid-century with the impressionists, painters ventured out of their studios to work on location. Their belief was that you should trust your eyes, which meant seeing things in nature not merely as form, but instead as light on form, and color therefore becoming expression of the light."
from an article by Mimi Schlichter in the Falmouth Enterprise, Summer 2006 special supplement
The article is available in its entirety on http://www.mimisart.com/pleinairarticle
Yes, I'm having fun this summer painting en plein air. Not nearly as much as I would like to, but quite honestly, I melt in heat and humidity!
Please enjoy the following... and with cooler weather ahead in August and September... please stop back to see more in the weeks ahead!
I'm still learning, making mistakes, and discovering new ways to play... but thought it might be fun to share a little of my learnings along the way...
This was my first adventure in early June... which turned out a fun little painting that I've donated to the Cape Cod Healthcare Art Auction Gala http://www.givetocapecodhealth.org/evntrslt.asp?evtidx=20
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Next, I traveled to Gettysburg, PA (my former hometown) to paint for a day or two.
Had the brightest yellow rental car, that ended up being a wonderful mobile studio!
I'm surprised by the difference in style that happens painting outdoors.
The style of this painting seems somewhat more primitive than what I usually do, though I enjoy it's simplicity.
Though only a small 6"x12", it took nearly two hours to complete! And I abandoned the car to sit on the ground under a shade tree.
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Back to Cape Cod. From this experience, I learned that it is best to complete the painting in the field.
I loved the looseness of the beginning of the painting, as you see on the easel to the left.
Though the end product is nice, I feel that I lost some of that freshness by working it to completion in the studio.
Plein air means plein air... I must remember that... keep it ALL outdoors!
This painting is currently on display in the West Falmouth Library Art Show and Sale, through August 8.
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Ahhhhh... this particular morning was one that I will remember forever.
I pulled together my courage, and knocked on the door of one of the lovelier (and larger!) homes (ok, I'll call it a mansion) not too far away.
I asked permission to paint the view from their bluff, and was graciously told "yes" by the owner. (THANK YOU!)
The view was breathtaking. The air moving across the bluff was delicious.
The sounds of summer were all around, with sailboats breezing by underneath, and children playing on the beach in the distance.
The painting isn't completed yet, so you'll need to come back to see that.
I intend to turn this painting into a larger, more detailed one that I will allow myself to do start to finish in the studio.
The memory of that view is emblazoned in my mind in a most wonderful way.
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Now I understand more fully that the experience of plein air painting isn't just about the painting itself, but also about the experience of nature that one is gifted with while doing the work.
Time to go to sleep now, so that I can get out and paint in the morning light tomorrow... nitey nite!
Mimi
Mimi's Art Mimi Schlichter, Artist
52 North Falmouth Highway (Rte. 28A)
PO Box 113
North Falmouth, MA 02556
Gallery hours by appointment or by chance!
mimi@mimisart.com 508-548-9096
Home and welcome ~ Paintings ~ Prints ~ Photos ~ Commissions ~ Price Estimator
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