Plein air is what? Tips for Beginners

Sometimes creative people speak a language completely incomprehensible to mere mortals. Well, for example, what kind of action can be expected from the artist, when he says: "Today I go to the open air"? This means that he will dress more simply, throw a backpack with a small supply of provisions, take the sketchbook with him and go to the nature to perform the sacred, that is, to write etudes. Here, it turns out that! Well, they also like to let these artists fog ...

The meaning of the word "plein air"

Let's see, where did this interesting word come from, and what is "plein air" specifically. Like many other words of the modern Russian language, it was borrowed from the foreign language. It turns out that this expression came from the French en plein air, which in translation means "outdoors". If you go further in cognitive research and look at the explanatory dictionary, you can read there that the open-air is:

1. Reflection of the air environment and natural lighting in painting.

2. Natural environment outside the premises in which the painter works.

Let's add that the artist nowadays can be considered not only a master of painting, but also a person engaged in creative photography. In this case, everything that is said about the open-air regarding drawing, has the same relation to photo shoots in nature.

What do you need for painting in the open air?

Since this article is addressed primarily to those people who are interested in the basics of painting and want to know better what is plein air (professionals have known this for a long time), we will try to talk about materials and paints that are best suited for open-air drawing.

1. Of course, you need to buy a sketchbook, small and light. It will contain a palette, colors, brushes, palette knife and solvent. Also here perfectly fit cut sheets of primed cardboard, on which it is best to write sketches in the open air. The decomposed sketchbook with the legs extended is used by the artists as an easel.

2. When choosing colors, it is best to give preference to oil. They are easiest to work with. Watercolor and other pictorial materials will require special skills, so we do not recommend using it for beginners. After all, you go to the open air! What is it, how not pleasure? Why complicate your task?

3. Of brushes, those that are made of natural bristles are best suited. Required as flat tools of different sizes, and round. Do not forget to take a solvent for oil paints and more rags to wipe your hands and hands.

4. Venerable artists always take with them to the open air a special large folding umbrella. Take an example from them! In clear weather, it protects you from sunburn, and in cloudy weather it will protect you from the rain.

The best examples of plein air painting

Now that you know that open-air is an outdoor painting, and fully equipped to do this type of creativity, you can go on a journey. But before embarking on sketches in nature, we advise you to study the creative experience of the best Impressionists.

It is best to unravel all the secrets of the plein air painting. Such artists as Claude Monet, Pissarro, Edouard Manet, Frederic Basile, Paul Signac, Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley, and from Russian - Konstantin Korovin, perfectly comprehended the laws of the changeable light game of flowers and were able to convey it on their canvases. Look at the reproductions of their paintings, in them a novice artist can draw a lot of useful information.

Curious facts

It turns out that before the painting in the open air became fashionable, the artists were engaged in the preparation of colors on their own, in their workshops. Thanks to the widespread enthusiasm of the plein air, oil paints were produced in tubes. After all, in this form it was very easy to carry.

Another interesting fact: open-air is not only painting in nature, but also music. Yes, yes, when the concerts are held outdoors.

Photoshoot in the open air

In our time, cameras are almost at all. In any case, at least ordinary soap dishes. But an expensive SLR camera is not available for everyone. But if you have an excellent SLR, then you can have a real, professional open-air photo session on your shoulder. What it is? The same as the plein air painting, only the camera is used instead of paints, brushes and canvas.

Just think how beautiful nature is! And how you want sometimes, while walking through the forest or along the edge of the surf, to take away a piece of this beauty with you. Painter is not allowed to become everyone, but almost anyone can learn to handle the camera. But do not think that the photo session in the open air is a simple matter. A photographer should know and be able to do a lot to get great pictures. Perhaps you will have to even first sign up for some photo-courses. But the main thing, of course, is practice. We wish you creative success in your work in the open air!