WHY DO WE DO IT?

 ‘Catawba- Craggy Gardens” 11 x 14 in. Oil Painting by Virginia Pendergrass

Bugs, rain and snow, heat, insects hauling heavy equipment on rocky trails to a waterfall or mountain view- ah, the wonderful natural environment for painters in plein air.

Why would painters not paint in their studios from photos or imagination with all their equipment at hand; heating and air conditioning, shelter and toilets in spaces regularly treated for bugs and rodents?  Representational artists say that the study of subjects in life leads to better paintings.  True...

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'Mighty French Broad', 9 x 12 in. Oil painting by Virginia Pendergrass


But I have a different theory- painting plein air induces calm and living in the moment.

After visiting Western North Carolina, I was struck by the calming effect of its beautiful landscapes.  The majestic blue mountains gradually came into view and tension drifted away. This calming effect led me to hike to waterfalls, rhododendrons and azaleas in bloom, dramatic skies, mountain overlooks and more.

Painting itself is another key to calming by living in the moment. In drawing and painting, time studying a landscape leads to deep appreciation for the beauty of almost everything. There is no thought but what I see and what I do to translate the beauty to my canvas.
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Plein air is addictive- it induces calm, and for an hour or three, keeps the painter in the moment.  ​That's my theory why some painters get hooked.

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