Posts Tagged ‘painting en plein air’
Linnea in Monet’s Garden
As a young girl, one of my favorite books was “Linnea in Monet’s Garden.” In tells the story of a young girl who accompanies her elderly neighbor to Paris to visit Monet’s garden. The simple storyline and ample photographs were a wonderful introduction to art, and particularly to the work of Claude Monet.
My parents also bought me a matching Linnea doll and I have watched the animated movie based on the book several times. I have introduced the book to my own young ones and they seem to love it just as much as I did. Actually, the book has inspired me to learn more about the plein air painter as well as his colleagues. Perhaps when my children are a bit older we too can visit Monet’s garden.
Painting Out-of-Doors
The French call painting out-of-doors painting “en plein air.” If you have never painted en plein air, you are in for a treat. Sitting for a few hours, enjoying nature while you are working on your landscape painting, in the words of a poet, “even if you got sunburned, lost your brush, spilled your paints, or got bitten by a bug, you’ve still had a great day.”
You will need special equipment, though. There are several kinds of fold-up easels available in which you can carry paints, medium, brushes and a canvas or canvasboards. Also, many artists stand because this tends to give the painting more energy. If you need to sit, you’ll need a stool, also paper towels or rags, which are more environmentally friendly – just cut up an old tee shirt. Don’t forget a hat (I prefer one with a wide brim), sunscreen, and bug repellent. Depending on the size of your easel, this can all be put in a backpack or in a rolling cart. Have a good day!