Innholdsfortegnelse for February/March 2025 i PleinAir Magazine

Art historians believe that a series of severe winters in France in the latter half of the 19th century contributed to an increase in the number of winter paintings produced by the Impressionists. Fascinated by how weather conditions such as snow and mist altered the chromatic appearance of familiar landscapes, Claude Monet himself painted approximately 140 snowy scenes in the course of his lifetime. A journalist once observed: “We have only seen him once. It was in the winter, during several days of snow, when communications were virtually at a standstill. It was cold enough to split stones. We noticed a foot-warmer, then an easel, then a man, swathed in three coats, his hands in gloves, his face half-frozen. It was Monet, studying a snow effect.” In The Magpie, form…

Artists often find their hearts and minds going in different directions when confronted by some great social need calling for a donation. Charity auctions regularly ask artists to contribute a work of art that can be sold to raise money, and certainly there is satisfaction in doing what one can to help a worthy cause. However, as opposed to art collectors, who are entitled to deduct on their tax returns the full market value of any object they may donate, the Internal Revenue Service permits artists to deduct only the cost of the materials used in creating an artwork they contribute. The sentiment involved in giving is fine, but the drawbacks — seeing one's artwork picked up for a fraction of its real value, forgoing any tax benefits, the limited…

OLGA ABROMOVA | RUSSIA Plein air painting represents a significant part of a classical art education in Russia, and many artists maintain the habit for years. There are artist associations that focus exclusively on plein air, and special programs exist to help artists move between cities in order to paint in different locations. Even the National Pastel Society of Russia, of which I am the honorary president, organizes plein air events for artists. Although I frequently travel with my students to participate in plein air festivals, I've never taken part in an outdoor painting competition, preferring instead to engage in exhibition projects. Plein air plays a specific, but essential, role in my artistic process. I use it to discover new approaches to familiar subjects, and to experiment with color and…

MELANIE BARASH LEVITT | PAINT WITH A PALETTE KNIFE The most magical experiences I've had plein air painting have been in the winter, when snow covers the tree branches and all is quiet in the landscape. Shrouded in white, the terrain allows for direct observation of interesting light, shadow, and reflections of color. On really cold days, when the temperature dips into the single digits, I stay in my car with the heat on and make small studies in the passenger seat. But whenever I can, I prefer to be out in the elements, painting the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where I live. OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES Stay warm: Sunny winter days feel warmer than overcast ones, so opt for those when possible. In either case, dress appropriately, and in…

“Nothing is stronger than nature. With nature in front of us we can do everything well.”  — Joaquín Sorolla Despite living far from the ocean, Spanish realist Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida (1863–1923) surely had saltwater running through his veins. Much like his contemporary John Singer Sargent, Sorolla drew inspiration from his own open and alive response to the observable world around him. Color, light, shape, and movement fill his freshly composed canvases, especially in his many paintings of the sea and the people he watched both relaxing and working by its waves. Think about how monotonous a series of paintings of the same small stretch of seaside could have been. In defiance, Sorolla's paintings, generally cheerful, convey a far larger sense of life beyond their limited and humble subject matter.…

I hear artists talk a lot about voice, style, and technique. Everyone wants to find their “thing,” that special something that sets them apart — a look, a way of working, or a specific mark-making skill set that speaks to their vision. The truth is your “thing” isn't something you find, but rather something that finds you. It develops without your knowledge, as a byproduct of your time at the easel. Make a painting, throw it on the floor, do another, build a pile, see what shows up. PAINT ONE SUBJECT MULTIPLE TIMES Consider the activities you do every day while never giving a thought to how you do them — tying your shoes, brushing your teeth, getting dressed, or driving your car. You do these things automatically because you've…

OCTOBER OCTOBER “BEST OF” CATEGORY AWARDS The 14th annual PleinAir Salon consists of 12 monthly contests from April 2025 to March 2025. The awards will be presented in May 2025 at the Plein Air Convention & Expo, in Lake Tahoe and Reno, Nevada. Winners of each monthly contest are automatically entered into the annual competition. First prize in the annual Salon is $15,000 cash and the publication of the winning image on the cover of PleinAir Magazine, along with a feature story. Second Place earns an artist $3,000 and an article in the digital edition of PleinAir Magazine. Third Place yields $2,000 in cash, with three Honorable Mentions taking home $700 each, and an Artist's Choice Award garnering $200. Six Best Medium Awards for acrylic, drawing, gouache, oil, pastel, and…

Art workshops offer an immersive experience where artists of all levels can learn new skills, refine existing techniques, and find fresh inspiration. Whether you're stepping into a studio for the first time or attending a masterclass with a seasoned professional, knowing what to expect can help you prepare and make the most of the opportunity. 1. A FOCUSED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT Workshops are designed to create a dedicated space for learning. Unlike self-guided practice, a workshop provides structured lessons led by an experienced instructor. Expect step-by-step demonstrations, insightful lectures, and hands-on practice tailored to the topic or medium. Workshops often emphasize experimentation, allowing you to explore new techniques without the pressure of creating a finished masterpiece. It's a chance to focus solely on growth and discovery. 2. PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK One of…

Of the hundreds of small decisions we make each day, how many have the potential to change our lives? We can't ever know, but sometimes a simple choice can cause an unexpected chain reaction. Just ask Scott Hamill. In 2010, the Californian went to New Zealand to explore the country and fish for trout. While there, he stopped in a small gallery in Glenorchy and discovered the work of a local painter named John Crump. “His large plein air paintings featured fluid brushstrokes, clean color, and incredible design,” Hamill recalls. “I had painted in high school and drawn from an early age, but that's it. Still, when I looked at his work, I felt like I could do what he was doing. He made it look easy. It changed my…

Painters who depict airplanes face a conundrum: to realistically render the elegant machines in action means portraying them in flight. Short of painting them from another plane flying alongside them in the sky, however, this is essentially impossible. Painting them as they sit inside a museum or hangar is one alternative, but their shiny fuselages can't possibly show the bounce light from sky and land indoors. Thus, plein air work becomes crucial for the exacting needs of aviation artists. Adding to the complexity, this genre can be very exacting. “In aviation art there's a term called rivet counting,” says Marc Poole, a Mississippi aviation artist. “If you get something wrong in a painting, you're going to hear about it.” Some artists may like that kind of obsession with detail; likely…

NOVEMBER NOVEMBER “BEST OF” CATE GORY AWARDS The 14th annual PleinAir Salon consists of 12 monthly contests from April 2025 to March 2025. The awards will be presented in May 2025 at the Plein Air Convention & Expo, in Lake Tahoe and Reno, Nevada. Winners of each monthly contest are automatically entered into the annual competition. First prize in the annual Salon is $15,000 cash and the publication of the winning image on the cover of PleinAir Magazine, along with a feature story. Second Place earns an artist $3,000 and an article in the digital edition of PleinAir Magazine. Third Place yields $2,000 in cash, with three Honorable Mentions taking home $700 each, and an Artist's Choice Award garnering $200. Six Best Medium Awards for acrylic, drawing, gouache, oil, pastel,…

Opportunities to meet others with a shared passion and to learn new methods and principles have always been important to artists. Today, those looking for a way to reinvigorate their process or capture a more authentic, spontaneous response to their subject have a range of experiences to choose from. Numerous prominent painters are happy to pass along their knowledge in workshops that last anywhere from three to 14 days, with the opportunity to travel within the United States or abroad. Most often, these workshops include painting demonstrations by the instructor, one-on-one assistance, and critiques of student work. Also helpful and inspiring, fellow students can provide information about other workshop opportunities, travel advice, and painting tips, as well as offer a source of support and camaraderie. Art schools and ateliers present…

JOHN POTOTSCHNIK: CHOOSE AN INSTRUCTOR WISELY 1. Pick your instructors carefully. Ask others who have studied with the instructor of the workshop you're considering to share their experience. 2. Stop workshop hopping. Select one or two artist-instructors who do the type of work you would like to do and learn all you can from them. 3. Lay aside any ego. Joe Paquet tells his workshop students to come with a humble attitude — a sentiment you'll hear over and over from my fellow instructors. Many years ago I was teaching a weekly class, and a new student arrived with all the Bob Ross gear. Whenever I would suggest something that contradicted Ross's teaching, she would say, “That's not what Bob Ross taught me.” It took some time before she came around, but…