About a week ago, Caroline Henry, who runs this blog, emailed me a reminder that I agreed to write a post for it. Back at the end of last year (when I had hoped to have one ready!) the plan was to share tips on how an artist could market their own work. But in her reminder email, Caroline suggested that my post focus instead on how my art goes in a completely different direction from most artists - for example, plein air artists, who record and artistically enhance a moment in time that they witness. She then proceeded to note, in a perfectly turned phrase that I will now credit and quote, that I create art “from the imagination, using the rich traditions of myth, legends, folktales, and holiday lore, as well as the complexity of the human mind with all its dreams and fears.”

You’ve arrived at the plein air site. It’s a great place. The scenery may be a bit challenging for lighting or composition, but first things first. Get your gear set up. As we all know, there can be challenges to this. Often the gear or tripod won’t level well. Sometimes those wobbly, spindly legs of a French easel are a real trial to get coordinated at the same time. Whatever gear you have, take your time, and enjoy the process and the scenery. I always look forward to this step, getting paints, rags, brushes and the other items ready. It helps me settle in and start focusing on painting.

Where would you like to paint? We can easily get to cities or towns, fields, lakes and farms. Whether in our own backyard, traveling throughout the states or Europe, we can get nearly anywhere our painting heart desires. With modern equipment, paint supplies, and phones or cameras, we can face the challenges and wonders of plein air painting in nature whenever we like!

Our ambition to paint may be fueled by many different things.  This includes classes, friends, magazines, YouTube videos, or even a natural joy at just putting brush-to-paint-to-canvas, paper and other materials.  No matter where we paint - in a studio, garage or barn, or the shed out back - we just can’t stop!