SALISBURY — For the Plein Air Carolina group, outside is their studio and it’s where multiple of the artists said they enjoyed being.
Plein air is different from studio art, said Phyllis Steimel, a founding member of the local group, in that painters are “painting from life. We’re outside, we’re setting up our easels and painting what is in front of us and not painting from photographs in our studio or from our heads.”
She said plein air follows the tradition of Monet, the impressionist, noting that it was this group that started it all because “they were the first ones to go outside and paint from life so their tradition kind of lives on through plein air painting.”
The group tries to go somewhere every Friday, depending on the weather, said Steimel, adding that sometimes they go on Saturdays and Sundays and the times vary because the light is totally different from morning to afternoon.
“The light has a lot to do with it,” she said. “So on a gray day, we try to paint a gray painting. On a sunny day, we paint a sunny painting.”
Seven members of the Plein Air Carolina group, which officially started in 2003, gathered at a nursery on Scout Road in Salisbury on May 15 and once there, they scattered and found the spot they wanted to paint depending on the particular aspect they wanted to paint.
“We get out here, and we see what inspires us,” said Steimel, and attracted to color, she selected a place with lots of flowers filled with color.
“It’s almost overwhelming,” she said, but added that she liked it along with the wheel, which she said attracted her to the area.
Standing behind her easel nearby, Cherrathee Hager was also painting the small wagon but from a different perspective.
She said she liked the way the light was reflecting, causing one side to be brighter and added that the light was reflecting off the wheels and plants and noting the “subdued color in the back, that gave me some variety.”
Mary Jo Agner, Steimel’s daughter, was there and said she was new at this but her sister, also an artist, had taught her to do plein air at a beginner class.
“I had fun with it,” she said, noting she was looking for a new hobby because she was close to retirement and wanted something fun to do. Her mother got her started with the group.
Agner said she selected the gazebo to paint because she liked the way the light was hitting the wood and flowers.
Sarah White-Harvey, who said she attends most of the events, said she would normally concentrate on one particular flower like a daisy in the sun, but opted to paint an area less overwhelming with people this time.
Sue Bartlett, also a regular attendee, said she chose “predominantly architectural details with the plants” as her subject to paint, “because I just like the diagonals and I like the shadows.”
She said that she is still pretty much a studio painter, doing this type of painting has helped her to “more quickly frame a painting and get into it quickly.”
For Karen Koritko, who said she has been doing this type of painting for at least 10 years, said her choice of subjects was probably because of the color and shapes of the flowers.
Plus, she noted she enjoys being outside and the fresh air and natural lighting.
Maryjo Gunning said she only paints Plein Air and actually belongs to four different groups.
She said with a laugh, “I’m totally addicted” noting that there is fresh air and she come prepared with anything she might need including bug spray, sunscreen or an umbrella.
Her choice of subjects was the plants and because she likes to do figures, she was going to add the young worker watering the plants.
Gunning said the light was beautiful on Friday.
“I chase the light like Monet did. He’s my mentor. It’s who I talk to,” she said with a smile.
As for how locations are selected, Steimel said they switch off and members that sign up to take a month are responsible for picking a site for the group to go and paint.
Agner selected the nursery for this Friday Paint Out and said what attracted her to the site was the colors and options to paint because there are fields, flowers, the greenhouse and the fact that it’s peaceful and quiet.
Hager said she is still in the learning process of plein air, noting that it is totally different from what she normally does, which is painting murals, windows and studio art.
However, she said, three years later she has some that are good and some are not, “but I’m still learning and it’s helped me so much. It’s a learning process, but I love being out here in all this nature.”
Hager said that this is the perfect place to learn how to paint and the other artists provide lots of support.
The group also has a plein air art show, organized by Sharon Forthofer, and held in the spring at Rail Walk.
She also noted that plein air groups are everywhere and artists can join these groups if in the area.
Steimel said anyone wishing to join them and paint outdoors may do so by contacting her at phyllissteimel@gmail.com and providing their email address and she would send out weekly identification of where they will be meeting and painting.