We need a better voice or avenue for a clear and less encumbered presentation for plein air painters. I am proposing an online representation of Plein Air Painters with the Heart and Spirit of the painter, Cezanne. Whom I believe, is the father of modern art and innovation along with renewing plein air thinking. Plein air as a means of exploration, uncovering some new truth in painting as should all painting. Cezanne gave us a wealth of inspiration. Who may we inspire?
Steve Doherty of Plein Air Magazine hung up the phone on me last week when I was sharing my ideas. This brought to the forefront my disgruntled feelings about the direction Plein Air Painting is being represented. I could not ignore this; I had to do something about.
Plein air painting is not about proving that you painted it outside by photographing a Plein Air Selfie of your painting on an easel in front of a scene. It is about learning. It is about forever being the student as Nicolai Fechin discusses. I believe this perspective will provide the path we need in painting.
Let us move together as a team, liberated, where artist are not followers, but explorers and leaders in painting. We do have a voice let us use it.
My offer is an objective opportunity to post new thinking in painting. A board of 7 painters will help to choose innovative painters. With monthly postings and highlighting cutting edge painting. An artist spotlight that will focus on their thinking process along with progressing examples of their work. Giving them the opportunity to present their value in painting. With our better approach, maybe the garage won’t fill up with paintings that all look alike, next to old outdated magazines scheduled for recycling.
To start the ball rolling I am presenting plein air pieces I experimented with while painting outdoors in the Hampton this past month. It made my time painting very fun. The outcome was an unique juxtaposition of normal and abnormal sized images painted with a painting knife. Even a play on the Great Pumpkin Story? It works well with the rest of the composition and is a visual play that asks the viewer to think is this real or imaginary.
9 x 12 inches, oil on panel
If you are that someone that fills this direction, please submit your work for consideration or if you would enjoy being on the selection panels, please email request to: contact@DarylUrig.com
