En Plein Air

I paint outdoors to be closer to the subjects that most arrest my attention. Working directly from life challenges me in ways a photograph never could—every brushstroke shaped by shifting light, changing weather, and the flaws of my own perception. Painting on location keeps me connected to the living moment, not just its image.

“Plein Air” is a French term meaning “open air” or “outside.” In the mid-nineteenth century, painters in France began to emerge from their studios to work directly in nature’s light. This practice grew in popularity once paint could be packaged in tubes—like toothpaste—and easily transported to remote locations.

If I have the chance to work outside, I take it. Because painting on location means I have to hunt. Photographs and digital tools are wonderful additions to this hunting process, but often when I work from photography, I feel disconnected from my subjects. All technology is incredible and deserves a place in creative spaces. I can only speak for myself when I stress the importance of painting alla prima. Working this way keeps me off balance. The wind may knock over my painting; a child may impose their own taste while their parent distracts me with art made by a great-great some one, and so on.

Don’t get me wrong: I have nothing against the camera, nor any tool that alters how we perceive the world. But in my experience, no tool exempts me from the difficult task of design itself. As a community, we have created countless inventions in the hope of alleviating this sublime burden. Still, rather than easing our struggle, they only shift the form of our obsessions. At the end of the day, we as designers remain forever bound to the curiosities of our hearts, compelled to translate them into physical form. No machine, camera, or overpriced paintbrush will do it for us. They may assist, but fortunately, art has never been that easy.

I am beginning to recognize that my flaws in perception and execution are also my greatest teachers. They shape my imagination, sharpen my sensitivity, and compel me to keep painting.

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Studio Work