Plein Air Artists of Riverside 2016 Paint Out Exhibition

Exhibition: May 5 – 26, 2016

Opening Reception: Thursday, May 5, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

The Plein Air Artists of Riverside (PAAR), one of RAM’s artist-member groups, holds an annual nine-day ‘Paint Out’ marathon event. Artists travel to scenic local areas to create several on-site works in oil paint, acrylic, pastel, and watercolor, executed in the traditional plein air style. This year’s Paint Out event is April 1 – 10, with “Garden Light” as the theme.

This exhibition represents the work created during the Paint Out, as well as work from a companion ‘Quick Draw’ event, during which the artists create works within the narrow time constraint of an hour and a half.

Plein air, translating to ‘open air’ in French, refers to a genre of landscape painting that is done, exclusively or primarily, outdoors and on-site. In mid-19th century France this mode of art making became popularized with the advent of the Impressionist movement and Barbizon School, which produced such artists as: Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Jean Millet, Camille Pissarro, and Pierre-August Renoir. As time progressed, Impressionist movements gained momentum in Russia and the United States. The Impressionist movement sought to replicate the illusory effects of light, color, and atmosphere, and proceeded to inform the Fauvist movement and the advent of what is commonly referred to as ‘Modern Art.’ There remains a strong demographic of artists working in the mode of plein air today, particularly throughout California.

For more information on PAAR and to join the group, visit www.pleinairartistsofriverside.com.