Posts

Plein Air Painting: Chasing light across the landscape

,

The legacy of plein air painting continues each summer in Leelanau County with the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s annual Plein Air Weekend. Scores of artists set up easels across orchards, along shorelines, and on the lively streets of downtown Glen Arbor—racing to capture the shifting light and spirit of this magical corner of northern Michigan. “It brings me immense joy to see so many artists setting up their easels all over town,” said Glen Arborite Kate McCarty. “You’ll see someone painting in the middle of a field, along the Crystal River, or right across from Art’s Tavern, capturing the energy of that busy little corner. I really admire their passion and curiosity. It’s inspiring to watch them interpret this landscape in real time.” Though best known as a premier destination for outdoor recreation, Glen Arbor has long been a haven for the arts. With its galleries, working artists, and deeply engaged community, Glen Arbor offers far more than bike trails and kayaking adventures. It is the very kind of place where a flourishing arts culture makes something like a recurring plein air event not just possible, but inevitable.

Read more
/by

Schlatter’s Plein (Air) Truth

,

Leelanau County offers an idyllic setting that continues the venerated tradition of plein air painting. With its stunning vistas of rolling hills, cerulean waters, and dense woodlands, the area provides endless inspiration for artists. The Glen Arbor Arts Center annually hosts the Plein Air Weekend where myriad artists converge on the town to participate in a two-day painting event. It serves as a platform for creative practitioners to showcase their mastery of light, shadow, and perspective. This event is a summer pinnacle and, essentially, the foremost artistic gathering in Glen Arbor. Then there is Crystal Rivers Outfitters (CRO)—a seemingly unlikely venue for plein air art. Situated in the heart of Glen Arbor, it is most often associated with outdoor sports and recreational activities: kayaking on the Crystal River, biking on the Heritage Trail, and snowshoeing out in the Port Oneida Historic District. To further enhance CRO’s repertoire, owners Katy and Matt Wiesen, enlisted plein air artist Stephanie Schlatter for an annual summer art pop-up on its grounds. This one-day event was established in 2019. “I thought it would be fun to spend a week painting their many properties or areas [that] their businesses serve, like the Sleeping Bear Dunes, the Crystal River, the Heritage Trail, and such. And then showcase the art in a wet paint sale—in the spirit of artist residences,” Schlatter explained. Schlatter will arrive at the patio of M22 Wine Bar on Aug. 8 from 3:30–5 p.m. where she will share her wondrous work and her ethereal, creative energy.

Read more
/by

Capturing a plein air Leelanau moment in time

Michelle Jahraus and her dog arrived at Good Harbor beach before dawn. She made it a point to get there early enough to choose the perfect spot to set up her easel and paint supplies in time to capture the sunrise over Lake Michigan. Jahraus, a Maple City resident, had just begun to block in the scene when she felt a powerful whoosh of air accompanied by the sound of beating wings. She looked up to see a bald eagle flying away from a perch right above her head. It is moments like this that draw artists to the act of en plein air, a French expression meaning “in the open air” and the practice of painting outdoors, on location.

Read more
/by