The Magic of Plein Air Painting

“Forcing myself to strap my easel, tripod, paints, and brushes onto my back and to hike into the wilderness looking for subject matter is something that has enriched my painting practice. It’s a challenge to find interesting subject matter when bombarded with visual stimuli. However, painting in the wild is a great teaching tool. Looking for interesting compositions, making sure the design is balanced, harmonizing the colors, and matching them to their environment are some of the lessons learned from the plein air experience. Not to mention, it truly helps inform my studio practice.

I must work relatively thick with the paint when I’m outside, which lets me see how juicy the surface of the paintings can be when you build up the medium. Because I need to work fast with a limited amount of time and light, I’m forced to make a quick decisions - not noodling or fussing over minor details. The satisfaction I get from starting and completing a painting in one sitting is enough to keep me coming back to the wild, creative chaos that is plein air painting.” 

– P. Colby Myer

This was painted within Guardsman Pass.