Plein air (from the French en plein air - “in the open air”) is the process of drawing and painting in the open air. Initially, this concept meant only painting, but over time other techniques were included in it. The main requirement is that the work must be performed outside the workshop or other enclosed spaces. Today, plein air is extremely popular among novice artists, as well as masters of landscapes and floral subjects.
Why do we need artistic plein airs?
Creating paintings indoors from sketches or sketches deprives the artist of the opportunity to reproduce the natural light-air environment. In addition, even the most talented painter will not be able to remember all the splendor and freshness of natural landscapes. In search of bright colors and enchanting moments, artists leave indoor spaces and go plein air. Outside the workshop, it is easier to capture the subtlest nuances of contrasts and convey the entire gamut of the color palette. And the plein air itself gives the creative process a special value, turning it into a kind of mystery of unity with nature. Also, working on a painting outdoors can become a tool for communication with other artists if it becomes part of a public event. Today, plein air paintings are often held as part of art festivals or training courses for those who want to learn how to paint landscapes in watercolor at a basic level.
Plein air in the history of painting
The emergence of the very idea of plein air is associated with the emergence of easel painting in the late Renaissance of the 14th-15th centuries, when background images of nature first became an independent subject for paintings. After the final design of the landscape into an independent genre, the artists were faced with the problem of the reliability of the rendering of colors. It turned out that the paintings painted in the workshops lacked freshness. Nature in all its beauty turned out to be elusive. Therefore, artists sought to paint nature in the open air, but at that time they did not set themselves the task of completely completing the work on the canvas in nature. Most of the masters drew sketches, made sketches and tried to select shades, and the main work was already carried out in the workshop. In addition, at that time there were no traveling easels and sketchbooks, and paints were stored in homemade cavities made from fish bladders.
It is believed that romantic artists were the first to conduct full-fledged plein air paintings at the beginning of the 19th century. The search for creative inspiration and admiration for natural landscapes prompted the masters to completely move the work on the painting from the workshop to the open air. The first tubes were even invented specifically for these purposes. The discovery was made by the American portrait painter John Goff Rand. In the early 1840s, he patented the first tin tube for oil paints. Previously, artists and their apprentices had to spend a lot of time preparing paints, and later had to ensure that they did not dry out. Since then, masters have had the opportunity to use not only watercolors, but also oils in the plein air. At the same time, easels with an easy-to-carry design were invented.
The English artists John Constable and Richard Parkes Bonington are considered the founders of plein air painting. They completely transferred their work on the painting “to the field.” The idea of refusing to work in the workshop was also associated with ideas about the depravity of civilization. Romantics looked to nature for inspiration and salvation from the alien world of urban bustle. Constable's "Building a Boat at Flatford Mill" (1815) was the first documented plein air work in the history of painting. At first, the initiative did not attract much attention, but already in the mid-20s of the 19th century, plein air painting received recognition at the Paris Salon. The innovation interested the French landscape painter Camille Corot, after which he actively began to promote it.
In the middle of the century, the baton passed to the Impressionists. Plein air painting provided the opportunity to capture a fleeting moment and capture it on canvas. At that time, the industrial production of paints in tubes had already begun, which significantly simplified work in the fresh air. At the same time, the plein air found new fans among the art communities. In the 19th century, representatives of American and European associations became famous for their works:
- Heimhausen and Worpswede artist colonies (Germany);
- Newlyn School (England);
- Group of artists "Macchiaioli" (Italy);
- Hudson River School (USA).
Interest in plein air does not disappear to this day. Just like 200 years ago, it is preferred by landscape painters and masters specializing in floral subjects. Not all artists strictly adhere to the principle of working outside the studio, but there are also devoted fans of plein air painting.
Famous plein air masters
Plein air has gained popularity among representatives of different movements and areas of painting. Traditionally, they are all associated with drawing wildlife, plants and animals. The greatest contribution to the development of plein air painting was made by romantic and impressionist artists.
- John Constable. English artist, member of the Barbizon school of painting, famous for his landscapes of the outskirts of the city of Suffolk. For plein air paintings I chose those landscapes with which I felt a personal connection or about which I had pleasant memories. Most of the works were painted in oils, rather than in watercolor, which is popular for his genre. The artist’s romantic landscapes were often criticized by adherents of academicism and realism in painting, so real recognition came to the artist after his death.
- Claude Monet. French impressionist, famous for his love of water lilies. He wrote about 250 works dedicated to these aquatic flowers. Many of his paintings were painted during a period when the artist suffered from eye disease. In 2008, the painting Pond with Water Lilies was sold for £41 million at Christie's.
- Pierre Auguste Renoir. A famous French impressionist who, in the late period of his work, returned to the principle of linearity of classicism. He worked in different genres, including painting landscapes. During the period of his passion for impressionism, together with Claude Monet, he regularly went out into the open air in the vicinity of Bougival. There was a beautiful location there, nicknamed by the Parisians “The Paddling Pool.”
- Thomas Cole. American artist, founder of the Hudson River School. The future landscape painter began receiving his artistic education from the traveling portrait artist Stein. For plein air artists, he organized long trips to the Hudson River Valley, where he wrote his most famous works - “View of Fort Putnam” (1825) and “Kaaterskill Falls” (1826).
Secrets of a successful plein air for an artist
During plein air, it may turn out that even a whole day of light is not enough to complete the painting. Time passes, but the work stands still. To avoid such problems, masters recommend carefully planning your plein air. Painting in nature will bring pleasure if the artist adheres to the following rules and tips:
- On a hot day, it is better to place the easel in the shade.
- You need to dress according to the weather.
- A hat will help prevent sunstroke.
- In the open air you need to take a folding chair for relaxation.
- It is better to paint a picture quickly, before the eye gets used to the panorama and stops distinguishing shades.
- Medium and small sized canvases are ideal for plein air.
- There is no need to waste precious time searching for the “perfect” landscape.
- If the area is familiar, it is better to think about the composition in advance.
- The light should fall on the area and on the canvas, but not blind the artist when the sun is at its zenith or nearing sunset.
- For winter plein air paintings, oil paints that do not freeze in the cold and cardboard as a canvas are suitable.
KyivGallery art critic