What is plein air? The most famous paintings painted in the open air. The benefits of plein air: sketches, choice of subject, painting techniques Which of the artists did not work in plein air

fr. plein air, lit. – open air) – 1) the artist’s work from life directly under open air, taking into account air and light phenomena; 2) painting in the open air (outside the workshop), associated with the study of plein air effects. The term is usually used to refer to any outdoor image.

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PLEIN AIR

French plein air - open air), painting created in nature, in the open air. Only by working in the open air can you vividly and fully convey the features of natural lighting and the light-air environment. Back in the beginning. 19th century The English artist D. Constable wrote landscape sketches from life, trying to convey in them changes in weather and atmosphere, but the paintings were painted in the studio. All R. 19th century masters of the Barbizon school and C. Corot worked in the open air.

The French impressionists (C. Monet, C. Pissarro, A. Sisley, etc.) truly discovered plein air painting. In 1891, C. Monet entered into a competition with nature in the open air. He creates the series Poplars on the banks of the River Epte, working simultaneously on several easels, trying to capture shades of color and light that constantly change depending on the time of day and weather. The artist paints etudes-pictures, competing in speed with the light itself: fragile trees trembling in the golden morning haze and menacingly rising trees against the backdrop of flashes of the sunset sky.

In Russia in the second half. 19 – beginning 20th century V. A. Serov, V. D. Polenov, I. I. Levitan, K. A. Korovin, I. E. Grabar and many others worked in the open air. Levitan captured in the painting “March” the joyful awakening of nature from winter sleep. Blue, lilac and purple shadows lie on the crisp March snow. Working en plein air, the artist saw and showed the audience that in the light of the bright sun, shadows lose their dull dark color. The blue spring sky and bright sun paint them in festive colors. Reflexes (colored reflections) of reflected light and color penetrate the shadows of the snowdrifts and form gentle reflections on the snow near the porch.

Sometimes creative people speak a language that is completely incomprehensible to mere mortals. Well, for example, what actions can you expect from an artist when he says: “Today I’m going plein air”? This means that he will dress more simply, throw a backpack with a small supply of provisions over his shoulders, take a sketchbook with him and go into nature to perform sacred acts, that is, to write sketches. Well, it turns out that! Well, these artists love to let in the fog...

The meaning of the word "plein air"

Let's see where this interesting word came from, and what exactly "plein air" is. Like many other words in the modern Russian language, it was borrowed from a foreign language. It turns out that this expression comes from the French en plein air, which means “in the open air.” If you go further in your cognitive research and look into Dictionary, then you can read there that plein air is:

1. Reflection of the air and natural light in painting.

2. The natural outdoor environment in which the painter works.

Let us add on our own that in our time not only a master of painting, but also a person engaged in creative photography can be considered an artist. In this case, everything that is said about plein air in relation to drawing has the same relevance to photo shoots in nature.

What do you need for plein air painting?

Since this article is addressed primarily to those people who are interested in the basics of painting and want to know better what plein air is (professionals have known this for a long time), we will try to talk about the materials and paints that are best suited for plein air painting.

1. Of course, you definitely need to buy a sketchbook, small and light. It will contain a palette, paints, brushes, a palette knife and a solvent. Also, cut sheets of primed cardboard will fit perfectly here, on which it is best to write sketches in the open air. An unfolded sketchbook with extended legs is used by artists as an easel.

2. When choosing paints, it is best to give preference to oil paints. They are the easiest to work with. Watercolor and other painting materials will require special skills, so we do not recommend using it for beginners. After all, you are going plein air! What is this if not pleasure? Why complicate your task?

3. The best brushes are those made from natural bristles. Will be required as flat tools different sizes, and round. Don't forget to take plenty of rags to dry your hands and arms.

4. Established artists always take a special large folding umbrella with them to the plein air. Take them as an example! In clear weather it will protect you from sunburn, and on cloudy days it will protect you from rain.

The best examples of plein air painting

Now that you know that plein air is painting in the open air, and are fully equipped to engage in this type of creativity, you can hit the road. But before you start sketching in nature, we advise you to study the creative experience of the best impressionists.

It was they who were the best to unravel all the secrets of plein air painting. Artists such as Pissaro, Frédéric Bazille, Auguste Renoir, and among the Russians, perfectly comprehended the laws of the changing light play of colors and were able to convey this on their canvases. Look at reproductions of their paintings; a novice artist can learn a lot of useful things from them.

Curious facts

It turns out that before outdoor painting became fashionable, artists prepared their own paints in their workshops. Thanks to the widespread passion for plein air, they began to be produced in tubes. After all, in this form they were very easy to carry with you.

Another interesting fact: plein air is not only painting in nature, but also music. Yes, yes, when concerts are held outdoors.

Photo session in the open air

Nowadays, almost everyone has a camera. In any case, at least ordinary soap dishes. But not everyone has an expensive SLR camera. But if you have a great DSLR, then you might be up for a real, professional plein air photo shoot. What it is? The same as plein air painting, but instead of paints, brushes and canvas, a camera is used.

Just think how beautiful nature is! And how sometimes you want, while walking through the forest or along the edge of the surf, to take a piece of this beauty with you. Not everyone can become a painter, but almost anyone can learn how to use a camera. But don’t think that a photo shoot in the open air is a simple matter. A photographer must know and be able to do a lot in order to get great photographs. You may even have to sign up for some photography courses first. But the main thing, of course, is practice. We wish you creative success in your plein air work!

Artists, art critics, art connoisseurs, and, of course, simply erudite people are well aware of what plein air is. For others, a beautiful foreign word is surrounded by mystery. This article will help fill the knowledge gap and broaden your horizons.

Plein air - what is it?

“En plein air,” the French say, and in Russian they say “plein air,” which translated from refined French means “in the open air.” This expression came to Russia from France, but was not widely used and took root exclusively in the artistic environment.

If an artist, hanging a sketchbook on his shoulder, says that he is going plein air, this means that he is going to take up painting in nature. And it is not so important what exactly he is going to paint from life: a landscape, a portrait of a beautiful lady or an entire genre painting, as long as this image or action captured on the canvas takes place in a natural environment.

The pictorial technique of depicting objects in natural conditions with the active role of air and natural light is what plein air is. At the same time, not only beautiful corners of forests and fields, but also, for example, a city landscape can serve as objects for painting.

The emergence of plein air painting

Nature has always been a favorite theme of artists. This was true during the Renaissance, and even before it. However, in the past, painters went out into nature only to create a preliminary series of sketches for a future painting. The main creative process always took place in the workshop.

The concept of plein air painting appeared relatively recently - in early XIX century. It is believed that the first artist who began working in nature was the Englishman Constable, who was passionately in love with the endless beauty of the sky, meadows and fields, and the bright greenery of the trees. He tried to capture on canvas the feeling of the changing life of nature. But the real pioneers of the wide possibilities of plein air were the French impressionists.

These art-obsessed creators were true innovators for their time. From morning until late evening they painted pictures in the open air. If you want to see and understand what plein air is, visit the Museum of Fine Arts. A. S. Pushkin in Moscow. There is a large collection of paintings by French impressionists. Today, paintings by such plein air masters as Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Pissaro adorn the exhibitions of the most famous museums in the world. Surprisingly, when they were just starting their creative path, few people understood their painting.

Russian plein air masters

In Russia, plein air painting has also gained great popularity. The first Russian painter to start painting en plein air was Sylvester Shchedrin. His landscape paintings are considered academic today, but for the 19th century they were innovative. Here are some more names of the most famous Russian artists - masters of plein air:

• A. Savrasov.
• I. Levitan.
• K. Korovin.
• A. Ivanov.
• I. Repin.
• F. Vasiliev.
• V. Polenov.
• V. Serov.
• I. Grabar.
• K. Yuon.
• A. Kuindzhi.

The most famous paintings painted en plein air

A story about what plein air is will be incomplete without information about the best examples of world plein air painting. The generally accepted standards include the following paintings:

• "Rising Sun", "Houses of Parliament in London", "Water Lilies", "Women in the Garden" by Claude Monet.
• "Luncheon on the Grass" by Edouard Manet.
• "Landscape on the banks of the Seine" by Auguste Renoir.
• “Wheat field with cypress trees”, “Starry night”, “Red vineyards in Arles” by Van Gogh.
• "The Rooks have Arrived", "Autumn. Sokolniki", "Winter Landscape" by Alexey Savrasov.
• "Above Eternal Peace", "Golden Autumn", "Evening. Golden Reach" by Isaac Levitan.
• "Moscow courtyard" by Vasily Polenov.
• "Winter in Abramtsevo. Church", "Overgrown Pond" by Valentin Serov.
• “Roses against the background of the sea”, “Paris”, “Crimea. Gurzuf" by Konstantin Korovin.
• "Trees", "Storm Clouds", "After the Rain. Country Road" by Fyodor Vasilyev.
• "Birch Grove", "Rainbow", "After the Rain", "Evening in Ukraine" by Arkhip Kuindzhi.
• “February Azure”, “Rime”, “March Snow” by Igor Grabar.
• "Russian winter. Ligachevo", "Spring in the Trinity-Sergius Lavra" by Konstantin Yuon.

Of course, this is only a small part of the huge list of world masterpieces.

Before the advent of plein air art, master painters prepared oil paints directly in their workshops, grinding pigments by hand. Thanks to new trends in art and the thirst of artists to go on creative journeys and carry paints with them, there is a need to pack such an inconvenient material for transportation into something. The industry quickly responded to the massive excitement: paints came into the world in tubes, which are very convenient to take on the road.

A wooden sketchbook with folding legs - an indispensable attribute of plein air artists - was also invented thanks to the development of plein air painting. This compact flat box holds not only tubes of paint, but also brushes, palette knives, a palette - everything you need to create a picturesque masterpiece in the fresh air.

Modern plein air

Today, when going on a trip, an artist does not have to take paints with him to capture the landscape he likes. It is enough to take a camera on the road. Nowadays, photo shoots in nature are very popular. Landscape paintings, which are created using modern digital technology, are sometimes not inferior in beauty to the best paintings.

This is a modern photo plein air. To successfully engage in this type of art, you do not need to first comprehend the basics of painting and carry a sketchbook with paints with you everywhere. All you need is a digital camera and a thirst for creativity.

Summer, as you know, is a small life, and plein air for an artist is a small art journey. Even if you go to the nearest park. And if you arrange a long trip for yourself, and even in a good company of like-minded people! Live influence nature and new experiences can become a powerful impetus for creativity. Often such trips remain as priceless memories for life. And today everyone has such an opportunity.

By the way, the great artists of the past also spent a lot of time in the open air. And what kind of incidents related to them does history not preserve?

For example, Claude Monet, who had a flair for engineering, equipped himself with a mobile studio on a boat. Thanks to this, he could swim along the Seine, anchor in places he liked and paint both banks of the river at the same time.

And his older comrade Camille Corot did not value the place for painting in the open air so much as time. The great French landscape painter considered the most best time for plein air it is early in the morning, when meadows, streams and copses are shrouded in mysterious charm. True, in order to catch this effect of awakening nature, the master was forced to leave the house at 3-4 o’clock in the morning. Contemporaries joked that it is not so easy to appreciate and understand Corot - to compare his paintings with nature, you have to get up too early.

Who had no problems choosing places for artistic expeditions was the Russian landscape painter Shishkin. Emperor Alexander II greatly appreciated his work and invited the artist to paint his paintings in the famous royal Belovezhsky Forest. True, such royal mercy backfired on the master. Although Ivan Ivanovich was received as an important person, the manager of Belovezhskaya Pushcha followed him everywhere and asked him to remove images of dried trees from the sketches. The official feared accusations of poor forest management.

Auguste Renoir found himself in perhaps the most difficult situation in his time. This happened in 1870, just in the year of the Paris Commune. Far from politics, the artist went out into the open air in a place between Paris and Versailles, in those places that were located between two warring camps. The Communard soldiers, looking at Renoir’s work in the impressionist style, thought that he could not draw at all. And they considered him a spy from the enemy side, who, under the cover of an easel, was taking a map of the area. Only the intercession of a familiar officer saved the master from arrest for espionage.

When an artist meets with spectators in the plein air, this can bring not only problems, but also potential profit. One day, two horsemen rode up to Paul Cézanne, who was working outdoors. These were the Barons Cochens, father and son - famous art lovers and collectors of that time. Acquaintance with them promised Cezanne many advantages. Unfortunately, without figuring out who was in front of him, the quarrelsome master drove away the uninvited spectators. Later they had to re-search for a common language.

Very soon there will be an online course in plein air painting, which combines all the advantages of summer art practice. The charm of landscapes, an experienced teacher, feedback and warm company - everything you need for a pleasant process and a good result.

Plein air: from A to your painting in nature. Online course

With an experienced mentor, even beginners can experience all the magic and inspiration of plein air painting. A sensational online course, after (and already during) completion of which you will be able to draw in the open air on your own. We will give you the opportunity to draw the states of nature yourself where you want it and exactly those that inspire you. You will be able to draw the sky in its different states, clouds, sunlight, city views, rivers, foliage. By applying the experience and knowledge gained in the course, you can simply and easily take the necessary materials and go on your art journey.

Plein air Plein air

(French plein air, literally - open air), a term denoting the transfer in a picture of all the richness of color changes caused by exposure to sunlight and surrounding atmosphere. Plein air painting developed as a result of the work of artists in the open air (and not in the studio), based on the direct study of nature in natural light, with the goal of reproducing its real appearance as completely as possible. Some moments that anticipate the emergence of plein air painting can be traced in the work of the masters of the Italian Renaissance and artists of the 17th century. However, in essence, the principles of plein air became widespread in the first half of the 19th century. (J. Constable in Great Britain, A. A. Ivanov in Russia). In the middle of the 19th century. The adherents of plein air are the masters of the Barbizon school, as well as C. Corot. The principles of plein air found their most complete embodiment in the second half of the 19th century. (it was then that the term “plein air” began to be widely used) in the works of the masters of impressionism - C. Monet, C. Pissarro, O. Renoir and others, as well as in Russian landscape painting of the second half of the 19th century- beginning of the 20th century (V.D. Polenov, I.I. Levitan, V.A. Serov, K.A. Korovin, I.E. Grabar). Literature: O. A. Lyaskovskaya, Plein air in Russian painting of the 19th century, M., 1966.

(Source: “Popular Art Encyclopedia.” Edited by V.M. Polevoy; M.: Publishing House “Soviet Encyclopedia”, 1986.)

(French plein air - open air), painting created in nature, in the open air. Only by working in the open air can you vividly and fully convey the features of natural lighting and the light-air environment. Back in the beginning. 19th century English artist D. Constable he painted landscape sketches from life, trying to convey in them changes in weather and atmosphere, but the paintings were painted in the studio. All R. 19th century craftsmen worked in the open air Barbizon school and K. Koro.

The French impressionists truly discovered plein air painting (K. Monet, TO. Pissarro, A. Sisley and etc.). In 1891, C. Monet entered into a competition with nature in the open air. He creates the series Poplars on the banks of the River Epte, working simultaneously on several easels, trying to capture shades of color and light that constantly change depending on the time of day and weather. The artist paints etudes-pictures, competing in speed with the light itself: fragile trees trembling in the golden morning haze and menacingly rising trees against the backdrop of flashes of the sunset sky.

In Russia in the second half. 19 – beginning 20th century worked in the open air V.A. Serov, V.D. Polenov, I.I. Levitan, K.A. Korovin, I.E. Grabar and many others. Levitan captured in the painting “March” the joyful awakening of nature from winter sleep. Blue, lilac and purple shadows lie on the crisp March snow. Working en plein air, the artist saw and showed the audience that in the light of the bright sun, shadows lose their dull dark color. The blue spring sky and bright sun paint them in festive colors. Reflexes (colored reflections) of reflected light and color penetrate the shadows of the snowdrifts and form gentle reflections on the snow near the porch.
From the end 19th century and to this day, work in the plein air forms the basis of the training of beginning painters. Many landscape artists still create their works en plein air.

(Source: “Art. Modern illustrated encyclopedia.” Edited by Prof. Gorkin A.P.; M.: Rosman; 2007.)

See what “Plein air” is in other dictionaries:

- [fr. plein air free air] lawsuit. outdoor painting (as opposed to studio painting) that strives to capture natural light. Dictionary of foreign words. Komlev N.G., 2006. plein air (French plein air free air)… … Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

Plein air, plein airism, painting Dictionary of Russian synonyms. plein air noun, number of synonyms: 3 painting (41) plein air ... Synonym dictionary

- (French plein air, literally open air), in painting the reproduction of changes in the air environment caused by sunlight and the state of the atmosphere... Modern encyclopedia

- (French plein air lit. open air), in painting the reproduction of changes in the air environment caused by sunlight and the state of the atmosphere... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

PLEIN AIR, ah, husband. (specialist.). 1. Reproduction of natural light and air in painting. 2. The natural outdoor environment in which the artist works. The watercolorist went to the village. Scene in the open air. | adj. plein air, oh, oh... ... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

- “PLEIN AIR”, Kazakhstan, KAZGITIK, 1998, 38 min. The artist goes on location. Wants to concentrate. But he is constantly being pursued by Someone. Director: Serik Utepbergenov. Scriptwriter: Serik Utepbergenov... Encyclopedia of Cinema

- (French plein air, lit. - open air) - in painting, the reproduction of changes in the air environment caused by sunlight and the atmosphere. Large explanatory dictionary of cultural studies.. Kononenko B.I.. 2003 ... Encyclopedia of Cultural Studies

Plein air- (French plein air, literally open air), in painting the reproduction of changes in the air environment caused by sunlight and the state of the atmosphere. ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

- “Claude Monet at the edge of the forest”, John Singer Sargent Plein air (from the French en plein air “in the open air ... Wikipedia

- (French plein air, literally open air) in painting, a term meaning the transfer in a picture of all the richness of color changes caused by exposure to sunlight and the surrounding atmosphere. Plein air painting developed as a result... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Books

• Plein air. Educational and methodological manual, Ermakov G.I., The manual is designed for students studying in the specialty 050100 of pedagogical education "Fine Arts", it contains useful information about painting in the open air. For what… Category: Teaching the art of drawing Publisher: Prometheus,
• Plein air: workshop in fine arts (+CD), Kadyirova Laysan Khabibulkhakovna, Tutorial introduces the specifics of working with graphic and painting materials in the plein air (open air) during practical training in fine arts. Revealed... Category: