Monday, July 15, 2019

En Pleine Air Paintings in Maine Triada Samaras

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