Plein Air to Studio - Oregon Landscapes

This extraordinary exhibit features expressive paintings from the field and studio paintings influenced by the outdoor painting experience. The exhibit includes more than 60 paintings, all of which were created by Plein Air Painters of Oregon (PAPO) members during the past two years. 

Plein air painting comes from the word “open air” in French, meaning the entire painting is conceived and executed on location. For centuries artists have been painting en plein air primarily using this method as a source for larger studio landscapes. The Impressionist painters of the late 19th century shocked the art world by presenting their outdoor work as the finished piece. Since then artists around the world have enjoyed sharing their plein air work as fully valid finished pieces.

The magic and spark of plein air comes from the artist’s response to the intensity of color, light and shadows, the temperature, wind, humidity, the challenge of bugs and changing light. Painting en plein air is an intense experience that requires immense concentration and quick reactions. A landscape caught from this exhilarating experience often has a freshness and liveliness that can’t be achieved in the studio.

Information: Emily Moxley