plein air
Painting in nature
Plein air describes painting done outdoors, directly from the subject rather than in a studio.
The French term means "open air." The practice became central to Impressionism, where capturing natural light required working on location: a plein air landscape, plein air painters at the beach.
Often hyphenated when used as an adjective: plein-air technique.
Upright frame for paintings
- canvasHeavy woven cloth
- paletteSurface for mixing pigments
- brushesBristled implements for grooming
- oil paintsPigments suspended in drying medium
watercolors · gouache · sketchbook · pigments · turpentine · linseed oil · palette knife · sun umbrella
French Impressionist surname
- impressionistPerformer copying famous voices
- RenoirFrench Impressionist master
- CézanneFrench Post-Impressionist painter
- GivernyNorman commune, artistic pilgrimage
dappled · colorism · brushwork · luminosity · palette · atmospheric effects · spontaneity
Pleasing distant scene
- panoramaUnobstructed wide-angle view
- horizonApparent earth-sky meeting
- coastlineLand-water boundary
- countrysideRural area beyond towns
meadow · riverbank · hillside · vineyard · seascape · harbor · garden · village
Radiance from our star
- golden hourWarm-lit period near sunset
- dawnDay's first glow
- twilightLight after sunset
- overcastSky fully veiled
shadows · dappled light · backlight · natural light · morning mist · diffuse light · harsh light · warm light
Watching something personally occur
- quick studyOne who learns rapidly
- sketchHasty informal drawing
- wet-on-wetPainting into undried layers
- workshopPlace for making or learning
easel
Upright frame for paintings
oil paints · watercolors · gouache · sketchbook · pigments · turpentine · linseed oil · palette knife · sun umbrella · field kit
Monet
French Impressionist surname
- impressionistPerformer copying famous voices
- RenoirFrench Impressionist master
- CézanneFrench Post-Impressionist painter
Giverny · dappled · colorism · brushwork · luminosity · palette · atmospheric effects · spontaneity
vista
Pleasing distant scene
countryside · meadow · riverbank · hillside · vineyard · seascape · harbor · garden · village · rooftop
sunlight
Radiance from our star
- golden hourWarm-lit period near sunset
- dawnDay's first glow
- twilightLight after sunset
overcast · shadows · dappled light · backlight · natural light · morning mist · diffuse light · harsh light · warm light · cool light
direct observation
Watching something personally occur
- quick studyOne who learns rapidly
- sketchHasty informal drawing
- wet-on-wetPainting into undried layers
workshop · wind · insects · sun exposure · time constraints
- art formspainting, drawing, sculpture, photography, music
- visual artdrawing, fine art, painting, portrait, sketch
- paintingoil painting, watercolor, acrylic paint, oils, oil paints
- art educationart classes, art schools, art curriculum, art teacher, art school
- art techniquespainting, drawing, sketching, shading, blending
- art termspainting, sculpture, drawing, portrait, landscape