“Hope Crossing” Plein Air painting by Jason Prigge
The following article was submitted by the Rahr West Art Museum as a part of its Art Forward series.
The Rahr-West Art Museum is delighted to launch their latest event, PaintOut. For years, the Wisconsin coastline, forests, and landscapes have been admired by artists. Throughout the state we have seen plein air events bloom, showcasing the talent and beauty of our state.
With the Rahr-West’s newly renovated East Garden, we wanted to take the opportunity to bring plein air to our doorstep.
But first, what is plein air? Plein air is French for “open air,” meaning artists paint outdoors alongside the landscape or subject they are painting. This is often a quick process, as they race against the shifting sunlight.
During PaintOut, there will be painting demonstrations by local and renowned artists, Jason Prigge and Pam Clausen. They will be working on their own pieces throughout the day, sharing insights and their talents with attendees. Not only do we encourage stopping by to see the demos, we also invite artists in our community and further to bring their plein air gear, set up shop, and create their own masterpieces.
If you’ve never painted en plein air, here are some helpful tips:
- Pack light gear including the basics of what is needed to create your work. This may include a French easel, something similar, or even just a board to put your paper or canvas on.
- You can also find “field pocket sets” of paint, palette, and brushes online that are made for light, easy travel set ups.
- Don’t forget a hat and sunscreen! Hats not only protect from sunburn, but can help with looking from subject to canvas without glare.
- Paper towel and water are some overlooked but useful tools for clean-up, mark making, and staying hydrated.
PaintOut will take place on the Rahr-West Art Museum grounds on July 23rd, 11am-4pm. The event is free and open to the public, with no registration required. Food, drinks, and music will be available to enjoy. Hope to see you there!
For more information on PaintOut, see our website here: https://www.manitowoc.org/2433/PaintOUT-Plein-Air-Event
Or, check out our Facebook event page here:
The Rahr-West Art Museum is free and open to the public. Find out more about hours an events at www.rahrwest.org.
