(Above: Nancy, Ray, Katherine, Roger, Bonnie, Rich, Diane, Michael, and John - Pat not shown)

 

In 2014, my artist friend Rich Troyanowski and I decided that we would begin painting outside (termed painting en plein air) on a regular basis together. Our goal was to become better painters and we viewed the outdoors as one of the ultimate classrooms for this purpose. We embarked on our journey and other painting friends began to join us for regular weekly paint-outs, constructive tailgate critiques, and lunchtime discussions. The Plein Air Friends painting group took form. At the end of our first year there were about six of us, all with the same purpose - to get better.

After our second year we had nine regular painters, with an occasional guest, and felt that the group was near a maximum practical size. Anything much larger would begin to limit where we could go, present parking issues, and add chaos to our valued critiques. We felt the need to protect what was working for us but did not want our experience to be exclusive. To that end, I have tried to encourage the formation of other plein air painting groups around the state through the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico.

Today the members of Plein Air Friends still strive for the same goal... to get better; and through regular practice, open and honest critiques, and mutual support, I feel that we're headed in the right direction.

--John

 

Click on the name of a member artist below to see some of their plein air work:

Diane Buster, Bonnie Buckley, Nancy Davis, Katherine Gauntt

Roger Gathman, Pat Leister, John Meister, Michael Meyer, Ray Ortiz, Rich Troyanowski

 

Guests painters who have painted with us:

Sara Allen, Rajen Chanchani, Jake Meister, Howard Wexler