During the summer of 1825, artist Thomas Cole hiked the Catskill mountains. Accompanying his mountaineering gear was a cumbersome studio easel. The following autumn, he returned from his mountain journey with several breathtaking paintings depicting the mountain glens, sunset, and wildlife. That November, his work appeared in the New York Evening Post. For many early 19^thcentury Americans, this was their first glimpse of the scenic mountains.

In the mid 1800’s, institutions like the Hudson River School (New York) and the Barbizon School (France) enabled artists to hone their craft of capturing outdoor scenes. Leaving the studio behind, artists from France, Italy, and America began painting en plein air (outdoors). Scenes depicting various weather conditions, moments from morning to night, and the daily routines of urban life were captured by artists like Claude Monet, Thomas Renoir, Winslow Homer, and Mary Cassat. Before the advent of photography, it was plein air that allowed many individuals to envisage the corners of the world far from their own.

Plein air painting is an outdoor activity that celebrates the beauty of the natural world and natural light. When Thomas Cole took to the mountains with oil pigments and brushes, he was intent on capturing a world that was beginning to fade. His paintings depict a landscape that was soon to be overtaken by urban development and timber companies.Claude Monet abandoned the studio because he felt that to best obtain the closeness and likeness of the outdoors, one needed to be outdoors. Painting en plein air became even more popular with the invention of the Pochade box, also known as the field easel.

At present day, Plein Air paint outs are held from coast to coast and many artists continue to celebrate the discipline. For some, plein air painting simply means painting outdoors. Other plein air enthusiasts are much more diligent in adhering to the plein air discipline, completing pieces in one sitting. The challenge of plein air painting is the capture of  fugitive light and weather changes of the outdoors. A skilled plein air artist can produce spontaneous pieces that are breathtaking and multi dimensional. But behind the spontaneity there is an organized palette, well stocked travel easel, and an understanding of composition.

At the Eastern Shore Art Center, we are often greeted with tourists and newcomers that revel in the beauty of this “artsy, little Alabama town”. Locals appreciate the art in our eateries as much as the menus!  From public sculptures to our city’s murals to the numerous galleries, you don’t have to look too hard to find color, texture, and creativity. But where are the artists…

In early March, we began working with local artist and instructor, Cat Pope, to implement ESAC’s first plein air paint out. Our goal is to encourage local and visiting artists to explore our fair city, seeking out idyllic locales and inspirational nooks and crannies. The paint out, beginning Nov 7th and ending on Nov 9^th, will also give locals and visitors a chance to see artists “ in action en plein air”! The work produced throughout the event will be displayed in the Courtyard Gallery at ESAC throughout December 2019. Just as the plein air paintings as the mid 19^thcentury allowed someone to experience a foggy morning in the Adirondack mountains, the Plein Air Fairhope Exhibit will be full of art that will allow individuals to experience the natural light of our city.

While painting from a picture or finishing a piece in studio are completely acceptable practices, there is a certain magic that is captured when plein air is “done right”.

To gain a better understanding of what plein air entails, Academy Director Reanna Watson met with local artist Cat Pope.

Join ESAC for a community celebration of painting in the great outdoors! 40 painters will be taking it to the streets – and the bay front pier!

From sunrise to sunset, artists will set up throughout the city with portable easels, chairs, and umbrellas. Work created during the “paint out” will be on exhibit and available for purchase at ESAC November 9-December 21, 2019.  Click below to see a list of participating artists and a map of the recommended zones they will be stationed in.

Have you tried Plein Air Painting? Let us know your experiences in the comments below!