arts
One purpose of PAPI, according to member Kelly Beach, is to “bring
awareness to other Idahoans about how beautiful our state is.” Carter,
raised on an Iowa farm, particularly enjoys painting Idaho’s fields and
meadows. She speaks of “a feeling of unhurriedness” these fields im-
bibe as the wind blows through the grasses. “It’s so beautiful when
it’s tall and you can see little shadows of where it parts where some-
one’s walked through…and some highlights and wildflowers poking
through here and there. It’s just so wonderfully organic.”
But plein air painting isn’t always picture perfect.
Steve Kellaway, a local artist and seasoned plein air painter says, “It’s
a bit of an ordeal. You have to pack all your stuff and usually you have
to hike quite a distance to get where you want to paint. When you do, it
can be frustrating to get the view you want; to get the sun the way you
want. Not everybody’s got the time or the patience.”
To be sure, plein air painting is not for everyone. All too often, artists
haul easels, umbrellas, canvases, paint and other tools to an outdoor
location; set up their gear and begin painting—only to find themselves
exposed to the elements. “The weather is always a huge challenge for
us,” says Beach. Idaho’s unpredictable rainstorms can drench precious
paintings in moments and heavy winds often hurl canvases from easels
in fits of rage. Not to mention, encountering other nuisances such as
poison ivy and mosquitoes can put the “pain” in “painting.” Carter even
jokes about a dog that once marked its territory on the legs of her easel.
“Radiant Pastures” - Sherri Carter
So why the appeal?
For these artists, the smell of turpentine and oil paint mingles with
“you understand how nature reveals itself as
the hot summer air, creating an intoxicating mixture of fine art and the
outdoors. “To be outside, to hear the birds and see the sun shining—
far as the real way light, color, temperature and
it’s meditative. It’s healthier too, with oils and solvents we use, it’s safer value are portrayed—you would never be able
than being in the studio,” says Beach.
to experience that while painting from photos.”
Carter is especially moved as she mentions “the light hitting the trees in
a fantastic way—you can’t capture that when you take a photograph.”
–steve Kellaway, artist
Kellaway agrees. “The
best part is that you
Although it rained for much of Beach’s outdoor painting episode,
understand how na-
she says, “The view was amazing, a dream for plein air painters.”
ture reveals itself as Although few artists have an opportunity to visit the Alps, plein
far as the real way air painters experience the best of both worlds—even in Eagle. You
light, color, tem- might occasionally glimpse an easel silhouetted against the hori-
perature and value zon, an artist poised—with paintbrush in hand—to capture on can-
are portrayed—you vas the image before them. What could beautify a night scene more
would never be able than a painter, standing like a sentinel against a fiery Idaho sunset?
to experience that Kellaway comments, “You kind of get lost in how beautiful it is…It’s
while painting from hard to have a bad day when you’re painting outdoors.”
photos.”
To be sure,
photographic im-
ages couldn’t cap-
• Join the Plein Air Painters of Idaho for a paint-out at Redfish
ture the excitement
lake from august 31 to september 4, 2009. a reception and
Beach felt many
art show will be held at the redfish lake lodge on thursday
years ago when she
v
ents evening, september 3rd. if you would like to know more,
visit
www.pleinairpaintersofidaho.org. For reservations at the
departed for a day
redfish lake lodge during this event, call 208.774.3536.
of plein air painting
during a vacation
• On August 7th, Galerie Belle Ame will feature work and
in Austria. “I rented demonstrations by several local plein air painters from 4-9pm.
a bike at the hotel Call 208.938.1342 for more details.
and rode into the
Steve Kellaway countryside and set
• The Artisan Gallery is sponsoring a Plein Air Workshop in
up right there near
upcoming e
High Valley with artist Fred Choate on july 11th. For more
information, contact 208.939.5889
a mountain and just started painting. There weren’t houses around, it
was just open…with the Alps soaring into the countryside.”
20 l
www.eaglemagazine.com
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