In July of 2010, 30 nationally recognized plein air artists will gather in Telluride, Colorado for the 7th Annual Telluride Plein Air celebration. The Sheridan Arts Foundation and Keith Wicks, Executive Director of Sonoma Plein Air, have again joined together to bring this exciting event back to Telluride. The first of its kind in this internationally renowned resort area, this event benefits community programming at the foundation's historic Sheridan Opera House.
Once again, from June 28th through July 4th, 2010 visitors and locals alike will have the unique opportunity to observe some of the nation's top plein air artists as they capture the area's flower-filled meadows, majestic mountain views and historic downtown dating to the turn of the last century. A good time for viewing these artists in action is at the 90 minute quick draw competition on Friday, July 2nd, along Colorado Avenue (10:30 - 12pm). That evening the Sheridan Arts Foundation will also host a Gala Premiere and Silent Auction to display the artists' most favored pieces of the week. This free event will be held in the park outside of the Opera House from 5-8pm and will also feature a wine sampling and refreshments. At 8pm the historic Sheridan Opera House Theater will open up for a concert with Janis Joplin's original band: Big Brother & The Holiding Company. Tickets for the concert are available at sheridanoperahouse.com. Lastly, on July 3rd and 4th, Elk's Park and the courtyard located in front of the historic Sheridan Opera House will be reserved for an exhibition and sale of the pieces created during this week-long celebration of plein air painting.
Come take advantage of this amazing opportunity to meet the artists, learn about outdoor painting, support art education in the community and have fun in beautiful Telluride, Colorado.
What is Plein Air?
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-19th century working in natural light became increasingly important to multiple schools of art. The Barbizon school of France was of particular influence on the Realists, who focused their work on everyday subjects versus prominent figures. These Realists inspired the Impressionists, whose style included visible brush strokes, ordinary subject matter, and an emphasis on light in its changing qualities.
The popularity of painting en plein air increased in the 1870s with the introduction of paint in tubes, which replaced the task of grinding and mixing dry pigment powders with linseed oil. It was also during this period that the "Box Easle ", typically known as the French Box Easel, was invented. This development increased the ease and portability of art supplies, making treks into the forest and up the hillsides less intimidating and more appealing to those looking to paint new landscapes. Lead by Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and others, the Impressionists took their paint tubes and easels outdoors, where they recreated the world as colors. At first these outdoor sketches were taken home to be finished in the studio, but eventually artists began to complete their works outdoors. Although at first rebuffed for what appeared to be unfinished paintings, the Impressionist vision soon became a standard for truthfully conveying the outdoor experience.
Artists in the United States were attracted to the concept, and many, like Californian Guy Rose, traveled to France to study with the French Impressionists. Suddenly, locations with remarkable light were of particular interest to painters including both the East and West Coasts and the American Southwest where painting colonies formed.
Today, there are more than 500 registered plein air artists in the United States working "en plein air" to capture the light and colors particular to a location.
We welcome you to Telluride, Colorado in 2010 for this very special event!