ItB次元官网网址檚 an old idea with a new following.
And itB次元官网网址檚 hitting the outdoors of the West Shore with The Al Frescoes Spring En Plein Air show, opening tomorrow (April 25) at Coast Collective in Colwood.
Plein air is the art of painting outside, capturing scenes directly from eye, through brush, to canvas.
The annual show is the third for a group of local artists calling themselves the Al Frescoes. They meet regularly to paint, depending on the weather. Member-artist Ken Faulks said one piece of bad weather, such as rain or wind, is OK, but two working together is enough to put most people off.
Painting outside has a long established history, most notably with the great impressionistic painters of the 19th century, such as Claude Monet and Edouard Manet, as well as post-impressionistic painters such as Vincent Van Gogh.
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As opposed to painting from a photograph or sketch, the outside world is constantly changing, inspiring a great use of the artistB次元官网网址檚 interpretation of what they are seeing, rather than trying to create an exact duplication of a still image.
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B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 getting the feeling of the thing youB次元官网网址檙e standing in front of and whatever way you want to put that down,B次元官网网址� Faulks added. B次元官网网址淣o matter how rough the stuff is, it always seems itB次元官网网址檚 different, it has something that studio work doesnB次元官网网址檛 really have.B次元官网网址�
The group has about 100 members who show up in various conglomerates for the weekly Friday paint, held in different locations around Greater Victoria, from Sooke to Sidney.
The three-week show at Coast Collective runs until May 4. Gallery hours are from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays at 3221 Heatherbell Rd. A wide collection of works from the group is on display.
The plein air group will paint Friday morning at Coast Collective, then display their fresh new works while sticking around to speak with any interested persons who attend.
B次元官网网址淭he best thing about the group? There is no rules,B次元官网网址� McFarland said. B次元官网网址淓veryone does what they want to do.B次元官网网址�
Painters will start between 9 and 10 a.m. (remembering there are no rules) and will hang their new works at 1 p.m. The artists will have the choice to paint anywhere on the property and visitors are welcome to come and watch them work.
As a part of the show, McFarland will teach a weekend workshop class called the Joy of Painting Plein-Air with Acrylics, which will run through the process of painting outside. The two-day course runs May 3 and 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
To register, call Coast Collective at 250-391-5522. Cost is $150, plus tax.
kwells@goldstreamgazette.com
