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.
Greg Barnes
Charlotte, NC
I’ve loved art since childhood, and it’s my greatest joy to be able to create spontaneously and make a living doing it. Pastel is my medium of choice as it provides a quick way to capture a scene with expressive strokes and color. Was featured in an article and on the cover of Pastel Journal in February 2020.
Lily Braff
Fuquay-Varina, NC
I have been painting for more than 20 years. In 2010 , I was accepted into the Hudson River Fellowship by Grand Central Atelier. We resided and painted for a month in the Catskill region of upstate New York . Two years ago, we relocated from New York city to a suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina, I have become much more involved in en plein air. I spend time observing and being inspired by my surroundings and to paint with my mind, then I do thumbnail sketches. I like bold loose brushstroke to express my feelings.
Ed Cahill
Marietta, GA
I have always been artist. I paint what I know—where I live and what I love. It’s an honor to do so as a professional with other painters—and share it those who appreciate it. When I travel I do so with joy and interest —Plein Air painters are explorers and scientists, we see the world with an eye for composition, color and drama. The only regrets I have is leaving a place before I discover all its beauty.
Charles Cashwell
Sautee Nacoochee, GA
After a successful career in portraiture, navigating Wall Street’s corridors, Cashwell pivoted towards Fine Art and Plein Air. Through self-discovery, he mastered impressionistic techniques with a modern twist, earning acclaim and invitations from art communities across the nation. He quotes, “I try to capture the moment in a modern/impressionistic style that makes you feel the time and place.”
Lyudmila Tomova Clark
Cary, NC
Renowned artist Lyudmila dazzled the art world in 2023, clinching an astonishing 22 awards in national and international exhibitions, 9 of which were first place. She whimsically dubs her painting style “create-destroy-create” – a rhythmic dance of gestures on canvas. Lyudmila’s talent has earned her numerous Best in Show accolades and features in esteemed publications like International Artist magazine. Inspired by nature’s beauty, her work shines in prestigious plein air events like Easton, Bluff Strokes, Telluride, Lighthouse, Glaciers, Suffolk, and New Bern.
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 that 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. Many of my paintings depict the pinkish-blue tones of early morning light or the amber tones of late afternoon. I have recently begun entering a few national competitions and I have been delighted to be included several times.
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.
Lauren Davis
Croton on Hudson, NY
I live and work in New York’s Hudson Valley. I walk everyday or evening along the Hudson River where I attempt to understand nature; the light the river, boats in the harbor. One of my Plein Air paintings was chosen as a finalist for October/November 2023 Modern Impressionist Magazine.
Vlad Duchev
Baltimore, MD
The beauty of visual storytelling lies in its ability to provoke emotions and spark the viewer’s imagination. In my work I try to encourage the viewers to find their own stories within my work, creating a connection that transcends the boundaries of the canvas. “The less is more…” we always say!
John Thomas Eiseman
Hebron, MD
John’s work encompasses several genres: Plein Air and studio landscapes, still lifes, and figures: using acrylics, oils, and watercolors. His paintings are surely representational and narrative at times, but the imagery is not about the pictorial. He uses the subject matter as design elements to capture natural phenomena, moment in space and time and mood of event. John believes that painting is not just the celebration of vision, but rather a quest for experience. In this sense, his paintings is not a recording of facts seen. It is the process of interpreting a fleeting muse.
Martin Geiger
Staunton, VA
Martin is a figurative painter and draftsman. He attended art school in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and graduated in 2019, after four years. Words that describe his work might include light, geometry, space and activity. He is constantly chasing implied grandeur and action, compelling him to explore constantly to find the most invigorating subjects in his immediate area. While he tends to return to oil painting, his curiosity often lures him into other mediums like graphite, charcoal and watercolors.
Millie Gosch
College Park, GA
Painting outdoors from life is a praise and a worship. To me it’s like breathing. I am drawn to simple spaces like open fields and the low country; sunshine and late afternoons. I love painting competitions because they keep me measured up and in tune with my fellow artists. Every little success, whether a good painting, an inspiring art group, or an award is a blessing. However, my favorite accomplishment is achieving signature status in the American Impressionist Society and becoming a member of the Plein Air Painters of the Southeast.
Ylli Haruni
Bloomington, MN
My name is Ylli Haruni, born in Albania. I was in 4th elementary class, 11 years old, when I was told by my teacher that I could draw that map better than the others [a class work we were given to draw the map of Albania] because I was gifted with a talent. That was it, I found my game and I never stopped playing that game, graduated College for art and then the Academy of Art in Tirana and, still keep on playing. I never get tired of it. I post my art on the media, sometimes very often, and someone asks me….when do you take a break?….and I answer …that’s what I’m doing.
Jennifer Holmes
Chester, CT
Through experiencing the natural world outdoors; I’m intent on painting the color, space, and abstracted shapes combined with composition, to create mood and excitement in the painting and the process. Painting in the traditions of outdoor painters of the early New England Plein Air Painters of Old Lyme, CT, and Rockport, MA, I paint on location most of the time. Plein Air painting is exciting to me as a painter, since I love being outside in the natural light creating that same feeling of the place in my painting.
Adam Houston
Statham, GA
Since buying my first set of oil paints while still in high school, I’ve been alternately fascinated and frustrated by Plein Air painting. There is nothing quite like being out in nature and capturing the landscape live as you experience it. While I’ve had the opportunity to paint across the US and Europe, I’m most at home in the South. Growing up, I spent my summers running around the mountains and hills of Western North Carolina and developed a connection with the land that I seek to express in my work.
Debra Howard
Omena, MI
I lived and traveled on a 44’ sailboat, for 27 years. I’m a USCG Licensed Captain. One of my favorite places to sail to was Oriental, Beaufort and New Bern, NC. I’m looking forward to painting this area. I now spend my summers on the Leelanau Peninsula on Lake Michigan and have won the Glen Arbor Plein Air 3 times.
Neal Hughes
Medford, NJ
Neal Hughes is a former illustrator who has been painting full time for many years. His oil paintings have a distinctive style with a poetic impressionistic approach combined with an authentic realism. His work can be found in galleries along the East coast and he competes in numerous plein air events and teaches workshops across the country. He has received numerous awards and is a Fellow of the American Society of Marine Artists.
Ralph James
Woodlawn, VA
Artist Ralph James captivates with a unique approach, seamlessly blending nature and canvas. Drawing inspiration from the ever-changing landscapes, James beautifully captures the essence of each moment. A testament to James’s talent, his artwork earned a prestigious spot in the Woodson Art Museum’s “Beyond Artworks – Artists and Their Stories” exhibition, showcasing the narratives behind the works of twenty-five artists such as John James Audubon, N.C. and Andrew Wyeth, Roger Tory Peterson and others.
Russell Jewell
Easley, SC
In 2008 I received a US Patent on my own Plein Air Viewfinder. It is my philosophy that if you can trace an image, then you can draw an image. Therefore, the general public does not struggle with drawing, they struggle with seeing. After retiring from teaching secondary art students for 35 years, I now lead painting workshops across the country teaching people how to see.
Zachary Kator
Ridgewood, NY
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.
Tim Kelly
Baltimore, MD
I took to Plein air painting around 2006 and have been an avid practitioner ever since. Cityscapes and waterfront vistas are my favorite subjects, and I often paint such scenes in a reportorial manner.
Rose S. Kennedy
Hope Mills, NC
Plein air painting is a joy for me, and makes my soul sing! I feel a connection with the landscape when out in nature capturing a scene. The challenge of getting the essence of a painting down quickly with shifting light patterns and weather changes is a fulfilling experience that drives my desire to create. My style is painterly, with expressive marks and harmonious hues that convey a sense of warmth and serenity. Detail is implied rather than described, allowing the viewer opportunity to linger and engage with the painting on a personal level.
Kirk Larsen
Hicksville, NY
Fascinated by life and learning; each new place, each day, offers endless inspiration. Kirk strives to capture the feel of that day, weather and setting. To connect, he often paints barefoot, dancing while creating. Exciting or mundane, it’s an opportunity to share with the viewer the “vibe” of the place & the people. The color, brushstrokes, composition and the tempo are uplifting. Recognized with over 189 awards including Museum purchase awards & Best Plein Air oils & Best vehicle in Plein Air Salon 2023. “When painting, I feel all is right with the world!”
Jeffrey Markowsky
Savannah, GA
Jeff Markowsky was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada. When he wasn’t playing hockey as a child, he was drawing, painting or sculpting figures with leftover clay found in his mother’s pottery studio. His formal education as a painter began in graduate school with Gregory Crane and then with Frank Mason at the Art Students League in New York City. In 2022 Markowsky, “The Plein Air Nomad” stepped away from full time academia and is currently traveling across North America painting, living a nomadic life.
Laura Martinez-Bianco
Marlboro, NY
I am passionate about painting and I savor every opportunity I am given. Each painting is the result of a unique experience that may conclude with a completed pastel but always provides me with a study, a memory that will influence my future works. I have been fortunate to have been juried and invited to paint in Plein Air events around the country. Plein Air painting has provided me with subject matter, the ability to see places I never knew existed, and a community who appreciate the arts.
Pat McBride
Pinehurst, NC
My goal is to share the sense of wonder of scenes or people that intrigue me. I enjoy experimenting, allowing the painting to develop and surprise me in the direction it takes. I love the immediacy of working from life. Light and expressions are fleeting and therefore precious. Perhaps that is why I am particularly drawn to skies or a person’s facial expression. Art, for me is a magical game of show and tell. My goal is to capture a moment in time, preserve it, and share the beauty and emotion with others.
Debra Moffitt
Williamsport, PA
Why paint? For the joy and adventure of exploring infinite combinations of line and shape, of color and texture. To record, through my personal impression, the unique ecological, historical, and cultural aspects of my environment, to tell the story of a place or person for a moment of time. And mostly, in creating my vision, I desire to convey the spiritual connection I find in the mystery and beauty of creation. Awarded Second Place overall and Best Painting at Audubon Site at Hudson River Plein Air Festival 2023.
Crista Pisano
Nyack, NY
Crista is known for her small scale format landscape paintings and is a member of numerous art organizations, and is represented by Sylvan Gallery in Wiscasset, Maine and Box Heart gallery in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Trippe Gallery in Easton Maryland.
Fen Rascoe
Windsor, NC
Whether painting en plein air or in the studio, Rascoe strives to simplify his subject and composition into a non-rendered three dimensional tale that allows the viewer to actively jump in and participate in the story being told. He paints alla prima or wet on wet all in one session with oils, and his style can be considered contemporary impressionism. His work is often inspired by the outdoor lifestyle of hunting, fishing and agriculture.
Jim Rehak
Seaford, DE
Over time I’ve viewed my plein air painting 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.
Elizabeth Rhoades
Belle Haven, VA
I have been painting in plein air since my teenage years, over 50 years. I started out painting in watercolor, then moved to dry pastel, and now paint in oils. I am typically drawn to water views, particularly marsh scenes. I prefer painting nature to urban settings. In my work I strive to make the viewer feel the deep space of a place, it’s time of day, weather, and light. I am fascinated by the way light bounces off objects and forms, and how surfaces pick up color from their surroundings.
Kari Ganoung Ruiz
Interlaken, NY
I have recently found myself intrigued by small bits of the greater scene; the corner of a building, an edge of marsh, a glimpse down a narrow path. I prefer to capture these moments en plein air – to represent the essence of that which made me stop and paint. My current body of work was created during several years of transition; trading in the commotion and energy of village life for the peace and solitude of the woods. I’m finding home in each painting; a quiet corner, solitary shadow, or sympathetic quality of light.
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.
Rokhaya Waring
Clyde, NC
Most often I choose to paint nature’s patterns and harmonies: boats in a harbor, clouds, a forest, a herd of goats. These are conversations between many objects in constant flux, and repetition is the underlying rhythm. Rather than a single focal point or place, I prefer my painting to be an experience in which atmosphere, motion and a sense of time are intrinsic. Five QuickDraw Awards including 3rd place at 2022 Cape Ann Plein Air, and Honorable Mention at 2023 Plein Air Easton.
Durre Waseem
Corona, CA
Art had been a common intertest in our family. Growing up we sisters drew, paint and talked art all the times, In our formal art school days we had open drawing sessions and paint outs at our house. While other two sisters majored in sculpture and design I graduated in painting. For over 30 years I had only been painting from life but since last few years i started using photo references which helped me progress in my work.