Artist Painting Outside
The term outsider art was coined by art critic roger cardinal in 1972 as an english synonym for art brut a label created by french artist jean.
Artist painting outside. The theory of en plein air painting is credited to pierre henri de valenciennes 17501819 first expounded in a treatise entitled reflections and advice to a. En plein air pronounced pln. An artist often utilizes photographs to capture detailslike the particular texture of grass or the shape of a river bendbut most painters stay away. In french it means open air or outside but since monets time the term has been used to describe people who take their easels outdoors to paint.
The term plein air was used to describe claude monet and the impressionists in france. Outsider art is art by self taught or naive art makers. In many cases their work is discovered only after their deaths. Often outsider art illustrates extreme mental states unconventional ideas or elaborate fantasy worlds.
A plein air painter can also use photographs to help design a painting though they usually come into play after the artist has left the outdoor painting site for the comforts of the studio. Plein air painting is for people who love to be outdoors in nature people who love to paint landscapes as well as other outdoor subjects like buildings cities old barns farm equipment statues flowers gardens and people. This method contrasts with studio painting or academic rules that might create a predetermined look. Typically those labeled as outsider artists have little or no contact with the mainstream art world or art institutions.