Wednesday, July 31, 2013

En Plein Air Art at The Edge Center in Bigfork


This exhibit, “The Path of the Plein Air Painter,” features diverse works including scenes found in nature and our lives in the out-of-doors.  This means that in the month of August a little bit of the outside will be inside at The Edge Art Gallery. These “en plein air” works are primarily in watercolors and oil expressing the passion of the artist, Derek Davis, for the outdoors. The artist is well known for his art, has many awards to his credit, and is an active teacher of the “plein air” technique from his studio in St. Paul, MN. The exhibit is from August 1 – 31. An opening reception is on August 2 from 1PM to 3PM. (The change of the time of the reception is so it will coincide with the Arts and Crafts sale next door at the Bigfork School). The Gallery is open on Thursdays through Saturdays 10AM to 4PM. Admission is free.



The French expression “en plein air,” literally means in the open air. And while artists had been painting outside for a long time, in the mid-19th century a couple of “inventions” made it more popular and efficient.  The first was having paint available in tubes, like toothpaste.  That made paint easy to pack and keep fresh. The second was the box easel, which made traveling with everything needed to paint in a simple traveling container



These advances in equipment are mundane today, but they helped usher in the Barbizon school and Impressionism along with the Newlyn school in England, later in the 19th century. Above information from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/En_plein_air  



If you get a chance to come to Bigfork in August you can enjoy some beautiful examples of open air painting by second generation artist Derek Davis. He feels the painting process provides him a means of self-discovery and a way of expressing appreciation for the world around him.  His teachers include artists Orlin Helgoe, Ivan Morrison, Lyman Rice, Leroy Greene, Lyndon Pomeroy, and Davis’s parents.



Derek feels that searching for the poetry of the moment and reaching to express that on canvas is sincerely gratifying and challenging.  He says, "with every piece I continue to learn. I strive to always be a student, with humility. I push paint and with every step I am learning to value the process of creating and understanding that ‘becoming an artist' is a journey and not a destination."





This artist’s works provide wonderful examples of the en plein air painting technique. They are very colorful, have wide ranges of subjects, with a variety of seasons and locals.  With an ample mix of landscape, figurative, floral, still life and watercolor, Derek’s art is an enjoyable experience for guests. Derek is a member and former president of the Outdoor Painters of Minnesota as well as a member of the American Impressionist Society.



It has been said about some of his work that he, “draws attention to his subject and the mood of his figurative work by using a minimal background, engaging shapes, and commanding color.”
Derek Davis won first place at the Port Washington, Wisconsin, paint-out, which was hosted by the Cedarburg Artists Guild, Cedarburg, Wisconsin. More than 60 artists participated in the event, which was held June 12 and 13. See http://oldtownartists.blogspot.com/search/label/plein%20air




Come and join in a celebration of "in the open-air painting" at The Edge Center in Bigfork during the month of August.  It promises to be a refreshing view of life outside full of color, life and beautiful images.  Come and meet the artist during the opening reception on August 2 from 1PM to 3PM.  (The change of the time of the reception is so it will coincide with the Arts and Crafts sale next door at the Bigfork School). The Gallery is open on Thursdays through Saturdays 10AM to 4PM. Admission is free.



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