En Plein Air
“I fell in love with Elora at first sight . . . Elora was unlike any other Ontario town I know . . . I became obsessed with sketching it”
– A. J. Casson Group of Seven
This open air painting festival allows artists at work to take their inspiration from the natural splendor of the river gorges as well as the heritage and charm of Elora and Fergus.
“Plein Air painting is about leaving the four walls of your studio behind and experiencing painting and drawing in the landscape”
– Artists Network
Plein Air painting is the opportunity to paint what you see. Elora En Plein Air is also known as the Grand River Painting Festival
“For me, a landscape does not exist in its own right, since its appearance changes at every moment; but the surrounding atmosphere brings it to life – the light and air which vary continually”
– Claude Monet
With the ever changing light, shifting wind and nature moving around you, a Plein Air artist must be quick and spontaneous.
“…it’s the perfect time of year with all of the shades of greens and blossoms. I enjoy painting in the villages as well as in the Gorge and the surrounding area – so many beautiful farms!”
– Julianna Cox, Elora artist
When you are painting En Plein Air, you will soon realize that the surrounding nature is so grand and your canvas is so small.
“Everything that is painted directly and on the spot always has a strength, a power, a vivacity of touch which one cannot recover in the studio…three strokes of a brush in front of nature are worth more than two days of work at the easel.”
– Eugene Boudin
If you look around, there are hundreds of paintings as everything outside is exciting to look at when you are painting En Plein Air.
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Ready to experience the joy of En Plein Air painting?
