"IMPRESSIONS"
Paintings by the Artists of
Plein Air Austin
Exhibition & Sale
Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Impressionist Painters
March 30-May 3
Opening Reception Sat. April 6, 2-4pm
The Hive/Bee Cave Arts Foundation
12700 Hill Country Blvd. T125 Bee Cave, Texas 78738-6366
Website
Paintings by the Artists of
Plein Air Austin
Exhibition & Sale
Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Impressionist Painters
March 30-May 3
Opening Reception Sat. April 6, 2-4pm
The Hive/Bee Cave Arts Foundation
12700 Hill Country Blvd. T125 Bee Cave, Texas 78738-6366
Website
“IMPRESSIONS”
PAINTINGS BY THE ARTISTS OF PLEIN AIR AUSTIN
Austin, Texas March, 2024
This year marks the one hundred & fiftieth anniversary of the French Impressionist movement in fine art. Considered by many to be the epitome of the fine art of painting, the artists of that era continue to be an inspiration to current generations of painters who create works of art outdoors or, what is referred to in the French language as “en plein air”.
In English it is pronounced “plein air” referring to simply painting outdoors.
One of the hallmarks of this genre of painting is a loose, spontaneous manner of creating a painting on the spot from direct observation of the beauty of mother nature. Springtime is a perfect opportunity to experience the beauty and color that is all around us here in Central Texas. Just as the French Impressionists challenged the academic traditions found inside of the ateliers coupled with the invention of photography, the plein air painters of today counteract current developments of the digital age and the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence to create visual art.
Outdoor painters in Central Texas with Plein Air Austin continue to keep the traditional skill of painting “en plein air” alive and well in the digital age. As Art historian and writer Pierre Courthion quoted the French Impressionist painters’ mantra:
“From now on the open air will be enchantment enough.”
(forward from Impressionism published in 1977. Abrams)
This unique artistic approach by painting outdoors coalesced here as Plein Air Austin when it was loosely established in 2001 by a group of seven women artists living in Austin, Texas. They had been meeting regularly to paint in the many local parks and natural areas for which the Texas Hill Country is celebrated. These artists casually called themselves Plein Air Austin, a group committed to promotion of painting directly from life by forming group paint-outs, exhibits, and fellowship benefiting other artists within the visual arts community. In 2006, a board of directors was established, and membership was formalized in the hope that the group would flourish and become a respected organization representing the talented outdoor
painters working in Central Texas and beyond.
Plein Air Austin gained its 501(c3) nonprofit status in 2007. Since the beginning, Plein Air Austin has welcomed artists of every skill level in a range of mediums. The motto “Paint With Us” embodies the openness found within this community of traditional painters. The freedom of individual artistic expression is nurtured through being inspired to paint outdoors and capture one’s own interpretation of all that mother nature has to offer.
"IMPRESSIONS" celebrates unique works of art by Plein Air Austin artists painting ‘'en plein air'’ just as the Impressionists painters did back in 1874. Over 20 current member artists of Plein Air Austin will exhibit artwork created in the field as well as the studio paintings that were inspired by these field studies. The public is invited to share this rare showcase of traditional paintings by direct observation from an array of talented painters working here and around Central Texas. The spectrum of artwork being presented is by both working professional painters and visual artists that are new to the field.
“IMPRESSIONS”
Saturday, March 30th and runs through Friday, May 3rd, 2024.
An Artists Reception will be held on Saturday, April 6th from 2 - 4 PM.
This will be your opportunity to meet with the artists and ask questions about these inspired creations
and discuss their own specific process of painting outdoors.
Plein Air Austin wishes to thank Gallery Director, Deby Childress and the entire staff at
The Hive & The Bee Cave Arts Foundation for making this event possible.
The Hive is located at12700 Hill Country Blvd, Bee Cave, Texas 78738 in the Hill Country Galleria.
Open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 1 to 5 PM.
More information is available at: www.beecavesarts.foundation or by calling (512) 522-9467.
PAINTINGS BY THE ARTISTS OF PLEIN AIR AUSTIN
Austin, Texas March, 2024
This year marks the one hundred & fiftieth anniversary of the French Impressionist movement in fine art. Considered by many to be the epitome of the fine art of painting, the artists of that era continue to be an inspiration to current generations of painters who create works of art outdoors or, what is referred to in the French language as “en plein air”.
In English it is pronounced “plein air” referring to simply painting outdoors.
One of the hallmarks of this genre of painting is a loose, spontaneous manner of creating a painting on the spot from direct observation of the beauty of mother nature. Springtime is a perfect opportunity to experience the beauty and color that is all around us here in Central Texas. Just as the French Impressionists challenged the academic traditions found inside of the ateliers coupled with the invention of photography, the plein air painters of today counteract current developments of the digital age and the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence to create visual art.
Outdoor painters in Central Texas with Plein Air Austin continue to keep the traditional skill of painting “en plein air” alive and well in the digital age. As Art historian and writer Pierre Courthion quoted the French Impressionist painters’ mantra:
“From now on the open air will be enchantment enough.”
(forward from Impressionism published in 1977. Abrams)
This unique artistic approach by painting outdoors coalesced here as Plein Air Austin when it was loosely established in 2001 by a group of seven women artists living in Austin, Texas. They had been meeting regularly to paint in the many local parks and natural areas for which the Texas Hill Country is celebrated. These artists casually called themselves Plein Air Austin, a group committed to promotion of painting directly from life by forming group paint-outs, exhibits, and fellowship benefiting other artists within the visual arts community. In 2006, a board of directors was established, and membership was formalized in the hope that the group would flourish and become a respected organization representing the talented outdoor
painters working in Central Texas and beyond.
Plein Air Austin gained its 501(c3) nonprofit status in 2007. Since the beginning, Plein Air Austin has welcomed artists of every skill level in a range of mediums. The motto “Paint With Us” embodies the openness found within this community of traditional painters. The freedom of individual artistic expression is nurtured through being inspired to paint outdoors and capture one’s own interpretation of all that mother nature has to offer.
"IMPRESSIONS" celebrates unique works of art by Plein Air Austin artists painting ‘'en plein air'’ just as the Impressionists painters did back in 1874. Over 20 current member artists of Plein Air Austin will exhibit artwork created in the field as well as the studio paintings that were inspired by these field studies. The public is invited to share this rare showcase of traditional paintings by direct observation from an array of talented painters working here and around Central Texas. The spectrum of artwork being presented is by both working professional painters and visual artists that are new to the field.
“IMPRESSIONS”
Saturday, March 30th and runs through Friday, May 3rd, 2024.
An Artists Reception will be held on Saturday, April 6th from 2 - 4 PM.
This will be your opportunity to meet with the artists and ask questions about these inspired creations
and discuss their own specific process of painting outdoors.
Plein Air Austin wishes to thank Gallery Director, Deby Childress and the entire staff at
The Hive & The Bee Cave Arts Foundation for making this event possible.
The Hive is located at12700 Hill Country Blvd, Bee Cave, Texas 78738 in the Hill Country Galleria.
Open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 1 to 5 PM.
More information is available at: www.beecavesarts.foundation or by calling (512) 522-9467.
