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En Plein Air is a French expression which means “in the open air,” and is particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors.
Artists have long painted outdoors, but in the mid-1800s working in natural light became particularly important to students studying at the Barbizon School, near Fontainebleau Forest, France. Seeking change, artists gathered there in a movement where they abandoned the structure of formalistic painting and began drawing their inspiration from nature. Natural scenes became the subjects of their paintings rather than mere backdrops to dramatic events. This was a big movement towards the type of paintings called “Realism” and what became known as the Romantic Movement and of Impressionism.
Characteristics of Impressionist painting include visible brush strokes, open composition, emphasis on light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage of time), and ordinary subject matter; the inclusion of movement as a crucial element of human perception and experience, and unusual visual angles.
The emergence of Impressionism in the visual arts was soon followed by similar movements in other media which became known as Impressionist music and Impressionist literature.
  
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It’s interesting to note that some of the most famous French Impressionist painters such as Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, advocated en plein air painting and much of their work was done outdoors.
The popularity of painting en plein air increased in the 1870s with the introduction of paints in tubes (resembling modern toothpaste tubes). It was also during this period that the box easel, typically known as the French Box Easel, was invented.
The attractiveness of outdoor painting has endured throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century and at the 10th Annual Bisbee Plein Air Competition, local residents can take part of view this type of painting for themselves.
Tips on painting
Painting en Plein air has its challenges and rewards. Inclement weather will most likely keep you indoors, but luckily in Southeastern Arizona many days are conducive to painting outside. When contemplating painting outdoors what and where you paint should be the first consideration.
The subject matter is entirely optional, but one thing to keep in mind is you don’t have to paint everything you see. Be selective and paint the “essence” of the scene. Focus on what you see, not what you imagine. Many artists bring a camera along to capture the shadows and light if they will be taking the painting back to their studio to finish.
The scene will change as the sun moves across the sky. For example, strong shadows in the early morning will shrink as lunchtime approaches. Start by putting in the main shapes across the whole painting and then the detail. If you work slowly and can be in the same spot for several days, consider having different canvasses to record the scene at different times and create a series of paintings. As the day progresses, change from one canvas to the next.
Setting up
Artists will have the opportunity to set up their easels in any of the 11 featured gardens on the Bisbee Bloomers Garden Tour, which weaves along West Boulevard and Wood Canyon Road.
Beginning with registration on Friday and ending on Saturday afternoon, when the judging and prizes are announced, the weekend offers a unique chance to paint, observe, socialize and possibly sell / buy some terrific artwork.
And, it all takes place in Historic Old Bisbee, where there will also be a Gallery Walk and receptions, music, food, fantastic gardens and festivities for all ages.
The judges
The BAC announces that this year’s Plein Air judges are Carol Reilley and Jack Wahl. Both have considerable knowledge and experience in plein air painting and have great reputations among their peers.
Carol Reilley is a third generation artist and designer, with one degree in fine painting and one in interior design from Parsons School of Design in New York. After a successful 20-year career as a vice president of Ethan Allen, she returned full time to painting and opened the Studio of Art and Design in Connecticut and a second studio in Sierra Vista. She is classically trained with an emphasis on drawing, painting and color theory. By using color and value selectively, she creates a feeling of distance and a progression of light. Carol has worked in watercolor and oil for more than 30 years, and has traveled internationally for her studio and plein air work. She is past vice-president for Ethan Allen Inc. headquartered in Connecticut. She currently resides in Sierra Vista, where she paints and teaches. Her art is in galleries on both coasts.
For 25 years Jack Wahl worked for two “Paint-by-Number” craft companies. He started with Craft Master and seven years later help start Craft House, which after a few years became the largest “Paint-by-Number” company in the world. During his free time he painted the figure, portraits and wildlife.
In 1987 he moved to Hilton Head Island, S.C., opened Wahl Gallery/Studio, and painted full time. Working in Oils, he started to develop his own style. Landscapes became his favorite subject to paint. He also taught drawing and painting in his studio.
Four years later he traveled to the northwest. Four months painting on location provided forty “plein-air” paintings. The trip covered 17 national parks and other places along the way. He started in Sedona and headed north as far as Banff, Canada, west to Victoria, B.C. and down the west coast, ending in Yosemite National Park.
Influenced by this trip, he moved to Tucson and built an adobe house with an attached studio. He started to paint the western landscape but still painted the figure and portraits. In 1997 he was accepted in the national Arts for the Parks contest. Many of his new paintings were influenced by his trips to Costa Rica and Nova Scotia.
Information
Event sponsors this year are the city of Bisbee, Bisbee Bloomers, Copper Queen Library, The Gardens at Mile High Ranch, Bisbee Foundation, Rio Verde Realty and the Bisbee Arts Commission.
Artists are responsible for their own transportation and lodging. Bisbee offers lodging in quaint little suites, bed and breakfasts, rooms in historic hotels and RV Parks.
For lodging information contact the Bisbee Visitor Center or visit their Web site, (520) 432-3554, 866-2BISBEE (toll free) or www.discoverbisbee.com.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
The Bisbee Arts Commission 10th Annual Plein Air Competition Weekend will be held Sept. 5 and 6.
More than $1,700 in cash prizes will be awarded: $500 Grand Prize — Purchase Award; $500 Millicent Kasun — City Collection; $300 First Prize — Bisbee Foundation; $200 Second Prize — Bisbee Foundation; $100 Third Prize — Rio Verde Realty.
Schedule of Events:
Sept. 5: Registration, map of gardens and stamping of canvas from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bisbee Visitor Center at 2 Copper Queen Plaza in Old Bisbee. Artists can begin painting after canvases are stamped.
Artists may paint in the gardens on the tour or anywhere in the City of Bisbee. A reception for artists and Garden Tour volunteers and garden owners will be at the Gardens at Mile High Ranch, 901 Tombstone Canyon at 7 p.m. on Friday.
Sept. 6: Registration and canvas stamping continues at the Visitor Center from 7 a.m. to noon. The Garden Tour runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. From 4 to 5 p.m. artists set up paintings to be judged and to sell on Main Street (the street will be closed from the Post Office to Subway Street). Artists must bring their own easels or stands for display of their work.
At 5 p.m. the judging begins. Artists are invited to visit the galleries and relax during the judging, giving judges privacy to do their work. Monitors will oversee the security of the paintings at this time.
From 4 to 6 p.m. a Gallery Walk of Galleries on Main Street will be open and serving refreshments. A stage will be set up in front of Atalanta’s and the local band “Cool Jazz” with vocalist Nancy Weaver and Duane Reilley on saxophone, clarinet and flute will provide live music to add to the festivities.
From 4 to 7 p.m. Paintings can be viewed and bids for the Peoples Choice Award can be made by the public. Bidding closes at 6:30 p.m.
Galleries participating in the Gallery Walk and receptions include: Verano Fine Art Gallery, 22 Main St.; SAM•POE Gallery, 24 Main St.; Tang Gallery, 32 Main St.; Twist, 51 Main St.; 55 Main Gallery, 55 Main St.; Exquisite Designs, 76 Main St.; Panterra Gallery, 54 Brewery Ave.; and Bizzart Gallery, 41 Brewery Ave.
At 6 p.m. awards presented at the band stand on Main Street.
Young Artist Plein Air Competition
Artists ages 8 to 18 are invited to participate in a separate painting competition held at the same time. There will be cash prizes donated by Bisbee Foundation, totaling $200. There is no entry fee in this category and the competition is open on Saturday only. Young artists are asked to meet at the Copper Queen Library in Old Bisbee at 10 a.m. to register, get more information and pick up supplies.
Youth Competition: $200 in Youth Prizes in each age category: Age 8-13; Age 14-18 — $50 for first; $30 for second; and $20 for third. Youth prizes are donated by Bisbee Foundation.
