I have never tried En Pleine Air Paintings before. This week all that changed. I took my art materials outdoors and tried it in two locations: Portland Headlight and Eastern Promenade. It was actually sheer bliss to go outdoors with my art materials. I will be doing more of this in the very near future!
En plein air (French pronunciation: [ɑ̃ plɛn ɛːʁ], French for outdoors, or plein air painting) is the act of painting outdoors. This method contrasts with studio painting or academic rules that might create a predetermined look.
Above: Portland Headlight
8" x 10"
Acrylic on Wood
Triada Samaras 2019
Above: Eastern Promenade
4" x 6"
Acrylic and Oil Pastel on Paper
Triada Samaras 2019
In contrast the painting below of my son Leo walking in the Maine woods was done in my studio from a photo. The difference is the amount of imagination I allow myself with the light and colors in the studio. In en pleine air painting I follow what I see outdoors with my naked eyes. In the studio I let my imagination take over sometimes completely sometimes. In fact, many times!
Above: Leo
12" x 18"
Oil on Canvas
Triada Samaras 2019
