PleinAir Magazine October/November 2021

In the summer of 1874, Edouard Manet (French, 1832–1883) vacationed at his family’s house in Gennevilliers, just across the Seine from Claude Monet at Argenteuil. The two saw each other often, and on a number of occasions were joined by fellow painter Auguste Renoir. On one such visit, Manet made this painting of Monet tending his garden with his wife, Camille, and their son Jean lounging nearby. Just as Monet was setting up to paint Manet at his easel (location of painting unknown), Renoir arrived. He borrowed paint, brushes, and canvas, then positioned himself next to Manet and painted Madame Monet and Her Son (National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.). After years of concentrating on dark-toned Spanish-influenced paintings, Manet had come to embrace his young friends’ practice of painting outdoors in a…

At the first Plein Air Convention & Expo, about 10 years ago, I was speaking to Jean Stern, art historian and director emeritus of The Irvine Museum, when he said something more profound than I realized at the time. “The people attending this convention will one day be the people you write about … will one day be the top artists of our time. This event is historic because the artists attending are here before they are known, and because they are here to learn and become better.” It’s sometimes hard to imagine someone becoming one of the greats when you watch them struggle with their paintings, but lest we forget, all greats struggled. Few, if any, were born with natural talent. Meanwhile, a decade has sped by far too rapidly, and…

In this issue, we build on an annual tradition started last October-November by shining a spotlight on some of today’s most promising plein air painters. These rising stars were nominated by a selection of well-known artists, gallery owners, and event organizers — Suzie Baker, artist and president of Oil Painters of America; Jill Basham; Rosemary Swimm, LPAPA Executive Director; Carl Bretzke; Jill Carver; and Trudy Hays, Executive Director of Scottsdale Artists’ School. With an eye for talent and a desire to pay it forward, our nominating committee recommended nearly 20 artists as significant up-and-comers. The 10 we’ve identified as “Artists to Collect Now” are still on their path, but as any master will tell you, the learning process never ends for anyone serious about their craft. As Marc Anderson, one of…

Make this the most wonderful time of the year for the artist on your list - with our help! Our annual gift guide is full of great ideas for artists and art lovers, no matter your budget. Paints, easels, tools, accessories... we’ve got it all. Maybe you’ll find something special for yourself, too! -PleinAir Magazine Embrace the night with the Casey Baugh Nocturne Palette Rembrandt Oil Set, 10x40ml Tubes $249.95 at royal-talens-north-america.myshopify.com . Use code SLP2021 for 40% off list! Email orders.na@royaltalens.com or call 413.300.1899. Dive into water-mixable oils with the Lori McNee Special Edition Cobra Solvent-Free Oil Set, 10x40ml Tubes $199.00 at royal-talens-north-america.myshopify.com . Use code SLP2021 for 40% off list! Email orders.na@royaltalens.com or call 413.300.1899. Never waste your paint with Camille Przewodek’s Paint-Saver Palette Kit. Ideal for plein air, clip-on surface stores…

The recent pandemic has not been good to the arts, with theaters, bookstores, and art galleries closed for lengthy periods of time, and not all of them expected to reopen. “When a gallery closes for good,” says Thomas C. Danziger, a New York City attorney who specializes in art law, “the question becomes, who owns the art?” The answer is most clear-cut when artists consign their own work to galleries. New York’s Arts and Cultural Affairs Law specifically states that, should the gallery become subject to a lien from a bank or face bankruptcy, consigned artwork could not be taken by a creditor in payment of a debt but must be returned to the artist (or artist’s heirs). That law also requires dealers to place proceeds from sales of consigned artwork…

The blinking lights of the ferris wheel illuminate the night sky. Children scream in delight. The smell of popcorn wafts through the crowd. We know we’ve come to the right place for fun. For plein air painters, fairs, festivals, and amusement parks offer unique opportunities to indulge in bold, vibrant color and flex the creative muscles needed to capture the energy and excitement on full display. Enjoy one last blast of summer with this special painting showcase. EDITOR’S NOTE: We are re-running two paintings from the August-September “Plein Air Portfolio: Country Roads,” with our apologies to the artists. The captions were switched in the original publication.…