Studio vs Plein-air

Last week I did the Cedarburg Plein-air Event and after I was finished I thought it would be a good idea to go over what I feel about Plein-air vs Studio painting. I was going to do a video but couldn't because of traveling so I wrote it out instead.

Setting and Environment:

In-studio painting: You work within the controlled environment of your studio, allowing you to control factors such as lighting, temperature, and comforts of being indoors. You have access to various tools, references, and resources that help most artists out a whole lot, especially beginners.
Plein-air painting: You work outdoors, directly in the natural environment you wish to depict. You experience the elements, changing lighting conditions, and the challenges of capturing a scene in real-time. You don't have all the tools available to you that you would in the studio, like a projector if your drawing skills aren't up to par, so that can be a big problem for a beginner.

Observation and Perception:

In-studio painting: You often rely on references, such as photographs and sketches, to recreate a scene. You will have the advantage of spending more time observing details and refining the composition, making it easier to achieve a high level of precision and detail.
Plein-air painting: You work from direct observation, relying on your senses and view to capture the values and composition of the scene. You experience the fleeting qualities of light, color, and atmosphere, which adds a sense of immediacy and spontaneity to your work. You get to see the real picture and colors that a photograph can't give you as well.

Time and Pace:

In-studio painting: You have the luxury of working at your own pace and can revisit your artwork multiple times, allowing for extensive revisions, experimentation, and exploration of different techniques. You can spend as much time as needed to achieve your desired results.
Plein-air painting: You work in real-time, capturing the essence of a scene within a limited time frame. You must work quickly and efficiently to capture the changing light and atmosphere. Plein-air painting encourages you to make decisions swiftly and embrace the energy of the moment. You can return to a scene but many times it won't be the same so it will challenge you to work looser and quicker.

Challenges and Limitations:

In-studio painting: You will face the challenge of trying to capture the real look and feel of the outdoors from a photograph, which unless you see it for real can be a huge challenge. You must rely on your interpretation and memory, potentially leading to a creative interpretation or distortion of the subject. 
Plein-air painting: You must contend with the unpredictability of nature, including weather conditions, insects, and changing light. You will need to make quick decisions about composition and color choices in the beginning while adapting to the constraints of the outdoor environment. A camera can capture the lighting for that moment, but still use the real scene to capture the color and mood of the scene.

Artistic Exploration:

In-studio painting: You can experiment with different styles, techniques, and subjects in a controlled environment. You have the freedom to push boundaries, explore abstract concepts, or create large-scale works that may not be practical outdoors.
Plein-air painting: You have the opportunity to engage with nature directly, immersing yourself into the atmosphere, sounds, and textures of the environment. It makes it easier to capture the unique qualities of a specific location and convey a sense of place and mood that can be more difficult to achieve in the studio from a photo.

I have come to the conclusion that both in-studio and plein-air painting have their own merits and challenges, and I believe it is great to do them both and learn from each as much as you can. Each method offers a great learning experience and allows you to express your creativity in different ways.

Studio painting is definitely easier when it comes to learning your medium and fundamentals... but by adding in plein-air painting to the mix it will increase your knowledge and ability to work in either environment and both will add to your artistic endeavors.

Happy Painting
David

 

Bagley Area Arts Collaborative, W/C workshop, Bagley, MN June 13-15th
Dillman's, W/C workshop, Lac du Flambeau, WI  June 18th to the 22nd
Lakeland Art League, W/C workshop, Hazelhurst, WI June 25th and 26th
Plymouth Arts Center, W/C workshop, Plymouth, WI July 13th and 14th
Thousand Island Art Center, W/C, Clayton, NY July 19th, 20th 21st

Grand Marais Plein-Air, Mini-Workshop Grand Marais, MN Sept 18th
Dillman's, gouache/watercolor, Lac du Flambeau, WI Sept 24th to the 28th

Sangamon Watercolor Society, W/C workshop, Springfield, IL Oct 6th - 9th
For more info on these workshops please email me

Click image below to download the reference photo for this week's paint-a-long