Art Exhibit Features Works Created
in Nature
On Jan. 6, the Thomaston Upson Arts Council Gallery Opened it's doors to a new art exhibit "A Breath of Fresh Air" by the Southern Ladies Art Conference. Over 50 works of art will be on display until Feb. 6 all painted "en plein air".
Local artist Phyllis Russell Franklin is a signature member of the Southern Ladies Art Conference and has five of her paintings on display. Other artists with works on display are from elsewhere in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
Plein air paintings are those done on location in front of the subject. The painting is started on site and substantially completed while experiencing the landscape or subject firsthand. More than one location session may be required to complete it. Some minor adjustments can be done back in the studio, but to be classified as a true plein air painting, very little altering can be done to the work created on location.
Plein air paintings have a quality that reflects the immediacy of the artist's interaction with the subject. The artist deals with the conditions encountered while on site with the ultimate goal to reveal to the viewer the emotion that caused the artist to want to paint that particular scene.
There are as many styles, materials and mediums used to create paintings done "en plein air" as with other types of paintings. It is all the personal choices that contribute to the unique expression of each artist while they paint.
TUAC invites any group to call the office 647-1605 to set up field trips to view the exhibit "A Breath of Fresh Air". If scheduled ahead of time, local artist Phyllis Franklin can meet with the group to explain more about painting in the open air and the challenges one might encounter.
