MEDINA, Ohio -- A new art exhibition recently opened at the B. Smith Gallery on the third floor of the Medina Library, 210 S. Broadway St.
“Seasons,” featuring the artwork of 11 Cuyahoga Valley Area Plein Air Painters, focuses on a variety of subjects relating to one of the four seasons. The show is open during regular library hours now until Jan. 22.
En plein air -- French for “outdoors” -- is the act of painting outdoors. This method is credited to Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes, who first developed the concept of landscape portraiture around 1800 by which the artist paints directly onto canvas within the landscape.
Kathryn Elias, one of the artists whose work is displayed at the library, described the process this way: “I have painted ‘en plein air’ on my own, but it’s more enjoyable to paint with other artists.
“When you reach the pre-determined location to paint, you must take time to wander around. Find a place you feel inspired by. Nature surrounds you.
“It’s just you, the view, the paint and canvas. You make that first mark and capture that feeling. Time disappears, you’re engaged.”
The artwork in the show is grouped by artist and varies from pure landscapes to studies of a farm, a lighthouse and scenes such as a lakeside cottage.
Some of the art has been created en plein air and some in a studio -- at least one was begun outdoors and completed indoors.
Several of the artists describe their process, either in a notebook available at the show or framed and hanging beside their work.
To learn more about art at the Medina County District Library locations, visit mcdl.info/Art.
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