Natalia Andreeva
Tallahassee, FL
Natalia Andreeva is an artist from Tallahassee, FL. Her classical European art education was influenced by Eastern philosophy, resulting in a blend of spontaneous expression and classical realism. She explores landscapes, still life, and portraits, showcasing nature’s subtleties and human beauty. Natalia is a Signature Member of the AIS, past-president of the TaWS and vice-president of the PAP-SE.
Jill Banks
Fairfax, VA
I strive to place you right by my side, in the middle of the action – by being there. During a recent trip to Key West, setting my easel up in the water captured the joy of playing in the surf. For another piece, peeking over a wall to paint helped capture the feeling of dining at the water’s edge. In Southern France, painting within the fruit and vegetable stand of the farmer’s market transported us behind the scenes. This immersion transforms us from spectator to participant – from observing the painting, to climbing into it.
Sarah Baskin
Colchester, CT
I am an impressionistic watercolor and oil painter. Painting outside en plein air is my happy place. I aspire to be a painter of light, focusing on how the sunlight plays across the side of a building and how shadows stretch across a landscape, giving viewers the impression and atmosphere of a place, not a photorealistic image of that place. One of my paintings won the Honorable Mention – Enthusiast Class by Thomas W. Schaller in the November 2025 BoldBrush Competition.
Karl Bostwick
Clemmons, NC
Nature is my greatest teacher, offering a complex design of light that scatters, bounces, and unifies the landscape like notes in a musical key. Before I touch the canvas, I stop and listen. I ask myself: What am I experiencing in this moment? By approaching each scene with open-minded curiosity, I ensure I don’t just paint a location, but the feeling of being present within it. I must hear the story before I can tell it. Last year, I was honored to win First Place at the Abingdon Plein Air Festival.
Coakley Brown
Henrico, VA
Drawing from my first career as a science teacher, but rooted in my childhood passion for art, I see with a sense of wonder that overflows into my painting. Seeking to stay aware and receptive to gifts of the present, I find truth and harmony in the interaction of things convention holds separate. This brings a spirit of playfulness to my work as I explore relationships between color, paint application, subject matter, and self. For me, painting means much more than documentation; it’s a celebration of found treasure. My 2025 journey included Plein Air Easton.
Armand Cabrera
Palmyra, VA
My goal as an artist is to convey the joy and awe I feel when witnessing the beauty of the world we inhabit. Painting is the most fulfilling work I’ve ever found. Finishing a painting in one sitting from life presents the challenge of recording my immediate experience. Painting from life is extremely rewarding to me. I find it the most honest form of painting. Standing with an easel outdoors—that’s when the years of practice come into play—the discipline to record the fleeting moment on canvas before it disappears forever.
Henry Coe
Parkton, MD
I earned an MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art. I prefer to paint outside, in front of the subject matter, en plein aire. While working as a teacher and curator I began painting seriously on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I was drawn to the flat land and big sky which reminded me of the landscapes of the Dutch painter, Jacob van Ruisdael. I did a seven month artist residency in China and three residencies in France and made many other painting visits there. My work has been featured in American Artist Magazine and the book 100 Plein Air Painters of the Mid-Atlantic.
Michael Compton
Cambridge, MA
I don’t believe there is a better way for an artist to understand and convey the true aspects of nature in it’s many moods than to work directly from it. All the difficulties and challenges of working outdoors in all kinds of weather seem insignificant when I’m before my easel in an inspirational setting.
Tom Conner
Phoenix, AZ
The effects of sun on the landscape provides the emotional impact that a scene needs for me to want to paint it, and hopefully to resonate with the viewer. Like a smile or a furrowed brow on a face, the lighting indicates the mood of my scenes. Often a great composition will present itself but maybe it is a cloudy day or the scene is in full shadow. I’ll file those locations away and wait for a better time of day or whether to go back to that scene before committing it to paint.
Karen Lee Crenshaw
Jacksonville, NC
A sense of place. That is the goal of my landscape paintings, for the viewer to “see” what I am seeing and to feel it is a place they have been or would like to visit. Plein air painting inspires me to capture the quality of the light that sets off that connection with the viewer. In recent years I have had work accepted in national competitions for the American Impressionist Society, the Oil Painters of America, the National Oil and Acrylic Painters Association, the Portrait Society of America, and ArtFields.
Katie Dobson Cundiff
Sarasota, FL
Inspired by Spanish painter, Jouquin Sorolla and Russian painter, Sergei Bongart, my passion is drawing and painting from life. I enjoy being outdoors painting places and subjects revealing the essence of everyday life. I was fortunate to have a father who was a successful illustrator teach me the basics of how to draw and paint, sharing his knowledge and love of the fine arts with me. I find it important and fulfilling to also share this knowledge and everything I have learned throughout my artistic journey, as well as my art, with others.
Alex Eisenzopf
Clyde, NC
Although I love to paint, my first love is drawing, and drawing drives my work. It’s not just structure- it adds power and dynamism. But what drives me is art with meaning- interpreting from life or creating from nothing. It doesn’t mean every painting tells a literal story, but I think art should suggest meaning. If I’ve succeeded you’ll be drawn below the surface of the painting. It’s a meaningful and worthy challenge. In my few years in plein air I’m pleased to have won several firsts at competitive events.
Millie Gosch
College Park, GA
As a Plein Air painter at heart Millie gets inspiration leaving the four walls of her studio to work in a natural setting. Her passion is painting from life outdoors – working from direct observation to paint in nature – and capturing her subject matter in real time. For Millie, this way of working is both her passion and her calling.
Pearl Horng
Midlothian, VA
Pearl is an impressionist painter based in Virginia who creates paintings that are energetic, expressive, and characterized by a deliberate balance between rendering and abstraction. She began working in oils over a decade ago while she was studying medicine, driven to pursue a dream she had as a child that she could no longer set aside. She continues to balance her life as an ER physician and as a professional artist. Pearl is particularly drawn to scenes with movement and a strong sense of light, enjoying the feeling and energy of brush in hand as an extension of her spirit.
Adam Houston
Athens, GA
As an artist based in Athens, GA, my journey in American Impressionism is deeply intertwined with the Southern landscape that surrounds me. In my art, I aim to capture the fleeting moments of beauty in the natural world, offering viewers a chance to pause, reflect, and experience the transcendent qualities of the landscape. My hope is that my paintings serve as a bridge, fostering a deeper appreciation for the environment and the timeless elegance it holds.
Fred Jackson
King of Prussia, PA
Painting outdoors is a blast for me—I get fired up by everything from wild nature spots to bustling city scenes. I love working fast and loose, with bold colors and chasing strong shapes that capture the vibe of each place, even if things get a little abstract. Though I study my composition, I mostly just go with my gut, painting in the moment and letting every brushstroke show the excitement I feel. That fresh energy is what plein air painting is all about for me, and it’s why I’m so hooked!
Julia Kamenskikh
Pooler, GA
“Light is my main subject and in each painting I am exploring how we see the world around us”. Award-winning artist Julia Kamenskikh is known for her luminous plein air paintings that capture the essence of light and place. Rooted in classical European traditions, her work reflects a deep commitment to craftsmanship and emotional resonance.
Zachary Kator
Madison, NJ
I’m most attracted to art that is realistic and expressive. Detail is secondary to creating a sense of mystery and emotionally moving the viewer. I was trained to work from life, and painting en plein air is my primary way of creating emotive artwork that captivates the viewer. I love to travel, and find inspiration wherever I go. My paintings express a love of both nature and cities. They also evoke an appreciation for diverse people and the myriad of places we inhabit.
Rajendra KC
Falls Church, VA
I am a watercolor artist inspired by the beauty of nature and changing light. My work reflects contemporary realism with transparent washes and expressive brushwork, capturing fleeting moments with depth and emotion. Painting en plein air connects me deeply to each scene. I was honored with First Place at the Floyd Plein Air Biennial 2024 and several awards in 2025, celebrating my passion for watercolor.
Tim Kelly
Baltimore, MD
My primary concern with plein air painting is journalistic. I wish to make notes of the places I’ve been and seen. This is the artistic approach I’ve taken since 2006 when I first began to go outside to paint on site. Cityscapes and waterfront vistas are my favorite subjects, and I often paint such scenes in a reportorial manner. My medium of choice is oil painting because of its range of application and capacity for realism.
Rose Kennedy
Hope Mills, NC
A former commercial artist, I now enjoy creating original paintings inspired by observing patterns of light and shadow, atmospheric conditions or interesting shapes within the landscape. Plein air painting is a great way to capture and study these moments, and serves as fodder for studio work as well. The challenge outdoors is in working with quickly changing conditions to portray the essence of a scene in an aesthetically and emotionally pleasing manner. My objective is to create a visual orchestration that has its own voice, speaking a lyrical narrative that conveys mood and presence.
Lynn Lewis
Kensington, MD
Plein air painting energizes me. I love searching for unusual places and viewpoints; experimenting with color to catch fleeting moments of light and shadow; adding figures if they happen into the composition; and developing patterns from details to help lead the viewer through my painting. If I immerse myself in a scene, magic sometimes happens. Painting outdoors in all seasons is a process of discovery and a never-ending challenge and delight.
Chuck Marshall
Cincinnati, OH
My work is about the dialogue of shapes, tones, colors, textures, edges, and line no matter what the subject matter is. By using these elements as a dialogue in my art I am not bound by subject matter and I am able to explore and experiment in order to create a statement and mood. I work in a range of styles while experimenting from tight realism to loose impressionism, to almost pure abstract. I enjoy a marriage of the styles most of all to achieve my end goal. My hope is to engage and influence the viewer on an intellectual and emotional level.
M. T. McClanahan
New Bern, NC
My dream as a young boy was to become a great artist. I spent hours on end at my easel. Could I be “good enough?” That haunting question was given breath one day when I opened the rejection letter from graduate school. I was devasted. So, I hung the letter on my wall and proceeded to paint my way into galleries from Provincetown to Charleston. I still don’t feel I’m good enough, still searching for that mysterious perfection. But that’s what love is I guess.
Brian Murphy
Asheville, NC
“Don’t copy nature to literary. Art is an abstraction. Derive it from nature as you dream in nature’s presence and think more about the act of creation than the outcome.” -Paul Gauguin
Murphy’s landscapes are painted on location in true plein air fashion, with the goal of capturing a specific moment in time and place. Working outdoors allows him to respond directly to light, atmosphere, and changing conditions, creating paintings that reflect the lived reality of contemporary life.
Dipali Rabadiya
Broadlands, VA
I am an “Alla prima” painter which means painting “all at once”or “wet-on-wet” creating an ordinary things. My paintings represents bold colors and spontaneous brush marks with limited palette. Painting a plein air style painting and teaching is an integral part of my art career. I started painting small and often and this habit is leading me to my ultimate goal. I received a Grand prize award and First place Quick draw Prize at Falls Church Plein air event in Virginia in 2024.
Jim Rehak
Seaford, DE
Over time I’ve viewed my plein air excursions as an opportunity to work on my self. What better situation to practice moment to moment awareness? We are continually shaped by the experiences that move through us. Painting allows us to share those experiences. An artist’s response to nature, light and everything around us can be expressed in paint… and each artist’s response is unique. Plein air painting in particular allows for an intuitive and personal interpretation and has been a good fit for me.
Craig Reynolds
Gadsden, AL
My painting process is deeply rooted in the essence of life, as I find inspiration by capturing the intricacies of subjects in real-time. The vitality of observing and interpreting essential elements like lighting, values, and color harmony in nature becomes the bedrock of my artistic expression. Through this immersive approach, I elevate my work to new heights. Despite accolades and recognition, my current focus centers on the gratifying journey of evolving to create expansive artworks based on my field notes and plein-air experiences.
Lori Keith Robinson
Savannah, GA
I have no choice but to create art. When the chaos of life threatens to engulf me, art is my stillness, my meditation, my bliss. It’s just me and my scene and the story I’m trying to tell. But, what completes the process for me is sharing it. To see what I consider my gift, become a joy for others fills me with happiness.
Janet Conway Rose
Wake Forest, NC
My creative process integrates daily observation and sketching, with experimentation – in the studio and en plein air – frequently inspired by nature. I enjoy creating mixed media artwork on a variety of substrates such as paper, stretched canvas, and cradled panels, pushing the boundaries of traditional styles of painting. Numerous paintings are developed with multiple layers of graphite, ink, paint, writing to incorporate thoughts, torn paper, and textiles. This exploration process also encompasses initial sketching or painting that may seem chaotic, then becomes more serene as additional layers are added.
James Sampsel
Port Orford, OR
My outdoor paintings showcase the life I lead, reflecting nature and my experiences with different cultures. As a fly-fishing guide, I’m drawn to rivers and my work touches those familiar with Oregon’s iconic waterways. My connection with nature and the people who once ruled these lands keeps my pallet brilliant and brushes craving more. The effect of time and human impact is of strong interest to me. All is changing with time so I explore the decrepit and patinas in the everyday. I want the viewer to feel that story.
Oleg Shvets
Reisterstown, MD
I work full-time, so I paint mostly in the studio. But when I’m outside, I first observe and saturate myself with feelings, sounds, details of the place and its subjects… Before I take the brush, I think through the colors and composition, or the mood of the future painting. Some of my studies are detailed, but I decide in the studio what to keep and what to let go. God blessed me with this gift, and I’m using it to capture the beauty of God’s creation, to evoke positive emotions, good memories, or certain feelings in viewers of my art.
Jeff Steiner
Minneapolis, MN
With my architectural background I’m drawn to the built environment, painting urban and small town street scenes as well as interesting structures within the landscape. I Paint with an impressionistic style, simplifying a scene using bold brush strokes and a limited palette, allowing a focus on the relationship of light and shadow, creating an atmosphere that captures the mood of a subject. I’m always striving to quickly paint a subject with spontaneity and energy, bringing freshness and life to a scene. To me the immediacy of watercolor best supports this approach.
Rob Summerlin
Savannah, GA
Rob paints for the unpredictable. To foster unpredictability within his work, he begins each piece by painting as fast and as loosely as his body will allow. This animalistic approach dispenses with formulaic decision-making and lifeless uniformity, all while providing an entry point for intuition to guide the work. Beyond this phase, his adjustments are minimal. It’s that initial frenetic burst, when his connection to the scene is most raw, that determines a piece’s character.
Rokhaya Waring
Clyde, NC
I carry a sketchbook everywhere I go which keeps me loose and ready to jot down the seeds for larger works. I’m drawn to color and pattern, such as boats in a harbor, fields of flowers, or moving clouds. Rather than a single focal point I often try to depict intangibles such as atmosphere, harmony, and movement. But it’s about more than just good design. I feel it’s important to fall in love with one’s subject. A painter should reveal to the viewer something that is connected to them, even if small or simple.
Durre Waseem
Corona, CA
I grew up in a family that loved to draw and color. I took up formal art classes in college and earned a Masters degree from Punjab University where I taught for the next seven years and later three at a girls college. It was during my teaching years that I explored myself as an artist with better understanding of seeing and omitting. For the next 30 years of painting, my colors and strokes evolved and as they adapted through my exposure to different art and places. I feel that now I only take charge of selecting a subject and my painting leads me through the process.
Paul Wolven
Fort Thomas, KY
There’s nothing like painting plein air! Much more comes to my eye compared to using a photo reference. Also, time limitations result in a painting which gives a quick impression, which is refreshing. Most recently, I got Honorable Mention at the Mariemont Paint Out in Cincinnati. My work is in numerous corporate collections in the Cincinnati area.
Cory Wright
Palmetto, FL
I chase light the way some people chase stories, by showing up, setting my easel, & letting a place speak. With plein air, time is of the essence, shadows shift, colors surprise me, and I have to trust my instincts before the moment disappears. I’m constantly solving visual puzzles like how to mix the exact glow of a cloud at dawn or how to crop a scene so it breathes. With each painting I try to convey a fleeting experience and offer it back to the viewer, hoping they feel what I felt standing there.