Plein Air Painters of Chicago
A brief introduction to Plein Air Painters of Chicago by Beck Anstee, originally posted on PAPChicago.com:
Scott Tallman Powers at work
Formed in 2003 by painter, Scott Tallman Powers, the Plein Air Painters of Chicago is a free, voluntary, informal association of artists who paint together on Saturday mornings in the Chicago area.
Our membership consists of those who paint with us, whether every weekend or only occasionally–the goal being to encourage and promote the art and practice of plein air painting, or painting in the open air, from nature. On a lovely spring day we have had as many as thirty painters join us. More typically we muster a dozen or so, even in winter.
Each week we convene at a location in or around Chicago to paint. Location information is distributed via our website at www.papchicago.com. What keeps us coming back is the excitement of painting from the living landscape. Creating an image in the moment. It is the same excitement that has fired generations of painters before us–and will be sure to do so long after us.
One key aspect of the Saturday morning painting sessions is the group critique, held after every morning’s painting session. It is through these informal group critiques that we grow as artists, learning solutions to problems such as composition, perspective, color, and value. We find that while some of us may have more experience than others, everyone is able to add something of value to the group.
"Old Town Doorway" by Jill Zylke
We exhibit our work in a group show at least once a year at the Palette and Chisel in Chicago. We feel that it is important to exhibit our work as a group from time to time; we take pride in the group and what we have accomplished together.
While many members of the PAPC are members of the Palette and Chisel, one need not be a member there to paint with us on Saturday mornings. Since painting out-of-doors is in itself a daunting proposition, we do not want to raise more barriers to the practice of this art. In fact we have found that encouraging all who want to try their hand at plein air painting has been an excellent way to stimulate interest in the Palette and Chisel and the classes offered there.
