Parrsboro International Plein Air Festival

Plein Air painting (the French expression for ‘in the open air’) was an expression developed by the French Impressionist painters in the latter part of the 19^th century. They believed that painting outdoors required specific skills to capture the landscape in natural light. Plein air painting requires adaptability to a changing environment and speed in applying painting techniques. As the sun moves, the light and shadows change, while the weather can also change quickly. The effect is different from painting from sketches or photography in the studio. The resulting painting has an immediacy and energy that many studio paintings lack.

image credit: Sharon Fox Cranston, Parrsboro Moon, Acrylic on board, 14” x 17”