Beth Ellis Painting on Location in Maine

Resources for Plein Air Artists

The Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society was founded in 1995 by Jane Zisk and has grown from a small group into a membership of approximately 100 professional and emerging artists dedicated to plein air painting. The Society was the subject of a Feature Article iin American Artist Magazine.  The article provides background on the formation of the Society and celebrates the joy of plein air painting. Read the article.

Smith Cove, Oil, Charles Movalli

The weather was perfect for our recent paint-out and member picnic at Harkness State Park. We have significantly expanded our paintout schedule this year which gives everyone many more opportunities to meet fellow members and enjoy some great painting spots. For more details on paintout dates with our membership, visit our Paintouts Page.

JUROR FOR 2010 ANNUAL EXHIBITION - Well-known artist Charles Movali has agreed to act as juror of selection and awards for our 2010 Annual Exhibition. This exceptional artist and teacher has written over 70 articles for American Artist magazine and conducted painting workshops in 24 states. His paintings are in various corporate collections and he has won various prizes including the Gold Medal at the Salmagundi Club and the Gold and Silver Medals at the Rockport Art Association. He is also listed in Who's Who in American Art.

CELEBRATE CONNECTICUT FARMS - 2010 represents the 10th anniversary of the Celebration of Connecticut Farms event, sponsored by the CT Farmland Trust. Once again, we will continue our decade-long association with the Trust as they raise money to preserve the working farms of Connecticut with this eagerly anticipated annual event that celebrates fine food, wine, and art. Find out more about Celebrate Connecticut Farms. Click HERE to download the prospectus to show paintings at the event.

NEW BULLETIN BOARD PAGE
Every year, we are contacted by various organizations who invite our membership to participate in their events - opportunities to paint on location or exhibit or both. Our new Bulletin Board page lists those opportunities; it is up to members whether they choose to participate. If you have items to suggest for the bulletin board, send them to Margaret Dean, CPAPS President.

WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES - If you are looking for a workshop or class, we invite you to checkout come classes and workshops offered by our Elected Art members. For more details, visit our Workshops page.

WHAT IS PLEIN AIR PAINTING? Plein Air is a French phrase that means "in the open air". The term decsribes a style of painting made directly from nature in order to capture the fleeting effects of light. The painter's challenge is to create an impression of the scene in the immediacy of the moment.
More about Plein Air Painting