Plein Air Painting Adventures
I decided to take on plein air painting and if you’re not familiar with the term it literally means in plain air in french or in other words painting outside. I was aware of the challenges before I set out on this adventure. I would be out in the elements with a limited time frame and working on much smaller canvases than I would prefer to while the light, shadows and colors change rapidly. I think when you do anything creative it’s important to challenge yourself and go outside of your comfort zone. I think I usually feel comfortable in a studio, but when I was able to study art abroad in Paris I went to visit Claude Monet’s home in Giverny. I sat on one of the bridges in his garden and did a watercolor painting of the same beautiful ponds he himself painted so long ago. There is so much beauty in nature and being outdoors inspires me to no end.
I signed up for the Plein Air painting class Light and Shadow in Art through SBCC Center for Lifelong Learning. I am also taking sewing there right now which is something I have been wanting to learn how to do for a long time. The plein air class meets at a different location each week and it’s been a fun experience and a challenge at the same time!
