by BRENDA STEWART
Leave it to the French to create a phrase that makes even the ordinary sound delicate and proper. En plein air translates to “in the open air,” and describes the act of painting outside. Although artists have been creating their art in nature since the beginning of time, working in natural light became particularly important to mid-19th century Impressionists such as Monet and Renoir. About that time, pre-mixed oil pigments were developed and artists utilized box easels with built-in paint boxes and palettes to make their work more portable, the same tools used by artists today. The Italians added alla prima “the first time” to describe artists who capture a scene in nature, from the first stroke to the final flourishes, in one sitting.
The historic Michaelis Ranch, with its hand-stacked fences and rambling, tin-roofed barns and stables, has always been an eye-catcher. On a December morning last winter, the Austin Plein Air Society gathered to “capture the light and the shadows” as they painted the turn-of-the-last-century wooden farmhouse, massive oaks and low-slung out buildings, working quickly, using broad brush strokes. Formed in 2001, the Austin Plein Air Society meets regularly, heading out into the sunshine, painting nature in its element.
