Richard McKinley Critique ~ Potomac Artworks

10.16.2009

Richard McKinley Critique

It felt like a rumble from the 1950s. We gathered cars around so they could act as easels. This gives you a small glimpse into the quality of the work coming from these talented artists.

It was a great way to close out an inspiring workshop, "expecially" seeing the incredible and inspiring work of fellow MPS members.

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The Charm of en Plein Air

Much of my work is done en plein air, French for "in the open air." People often associate it with the Impressionists, but the move to paint outside preceded them by a number of decades. The trend to appreciate landscapes as a genre at all was new for the time.

Several characteristics contribute to the distinctive beauty of en plein air painting. They are generally smaller in size in order to be able to capture a scene in a single sitting. Because of the time limit and environmental factors such as the sun and shadows moving, they often lack extensive details and might appear slightly fuzzy or unfinished. Lastly, they tend to have a freshness and spontaneity which makes them impossible to compare to traditional and methodological studio work. That said, my own studio work tends toward the same feel as en plein air, which then identifies my overall style: softness with an edge.

My aim when painting en plein air is for alla prima paintings, which roughly translates for me as "what happens outside, stays outside." It adds another level of difficulty to the work.

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10.16.2009