What Is En Plein Air?

Charity Anderson is a En Plein Air painter, so what is En Plein Air, you ask? En plein air is a French expression meaning “in the open air”, and refers to the act of painting outdoors with the artist's subject in full view. This method contrasts with studio painting that might create a predetermined look. The Theory of ‘En plein air’ painting is credited to Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes (1750-1819) where he developed the concept of landscape portraiture by which the artist paints directly onto the canvas what they we’re seeing within the landscape. This enabled the artist to better capture the changing details of weather and light.

In the 1800’s when portable easels, paint in tubes and canvases that could be transported we’re created it allowed the practice to develop in France and in the early 1830’s the Barbizon school of painting in natural light was highly influential. They taught tonal qualities, color, lose brushwork and softness of form. Artist Charles-Francois Daubigny, and Theodore Rousseau we’re both students at Barbizon.

In the early 1860s, four young painters: Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Alfred Sisley and Frederic Bazille met whilst studying under the academic artist Charles Gleyre. They discovered that they shared an interest in painting landscape and contemporary life and they often ventured into the countryside together to paint in the open air, that is what Charity Anderson does she takes hikes into amazing scenery and looks for a view that inspires her.

Steven McDonald is also an En Plein Air artist and he faces the challenges of painting outdoors, they include the type of paint used to paint outdoors, animals, bugs, onlookers, and environmental conditions such as weather. Acrylic paint may harden and dry quickly in warm, sunny weather and it cannot be reused. On the opposite side of the spectrum is the challenge of painting in moist or damp conditions with precipitation. The advent of plein air painting predated the invention of acrylics. The traditional and well-established method of painting en plein air incorporates the use of oil paint.

The most common and traditional color palette for en plein air painters is one that consists of a warm and a cool of each primary color. Steven McDonald uses the primary colors are the three colors that can't be mixed from other colors and that create other colors when mixed. These primary colors are red, yellow, and blue.

Charity Anderson and Steven Mcdonald are both en plein air painters, featured here are four pieces that we carry at Studio Seven Arts. The paintings used in this post are from Charity Anderson and Steven McDonald.

Steve Thomas, Art With A Retro Feel

Here at Studio Seven Arts we are fortunate to feature artist Steve Thomas who is inspired by the National Park Posters and creates modern-day art with a retro feel. Steve’s pieces feature many well-known places in California, Utah, and other states here in the US. Steve’s latest piece is Pleasanton Downtown and is filled with nostalgia from the Hap’s sign to the Meadowlark Dairy.

In 1938 the very first National Park poster was the Grand Teton National Park and from 1938 to 1941 there were an estimated 1,400 National Park posters printed. Today, just 41 posters are accounted for of the 14 designs that we’re created by Park Service offices in Berkeley, California, and in the Western Museums Laboratories at the Berkeley University campus. Other parks included in the project were Yosemite, Zion, Grand Canyon, Lassen, Mount Rainer, Petrified Forest, Great Smoky Mountain’s, Glacier, Wind Cave, and Fort Marion, today known as Castillo de San Marcos. Steve Thomas has created Yosemite, Big Basin and Sequoia National Park with a vibrant style

At the time, the WPA (Work Progress Administration) National Park posters were not considered to have a great artistic value, so they were treated without particular care and few of them received attention. They were used as wall decorations in National Parks’ offices and gift shops. They were sold or given away, and often thrown into the garbage. The artists who created the posters were not given much credit either and most of their names are not known today. Only one artist is known and his name is Chester Don Powell who is attributed to creating the Yellowstone, Zion, and Yosemite serigraphs.

Take a look at all Steve Thomas has created and choose your favorite places that you have visited or places that hold a special place in your heart, build a wall of art that brings you memories and makes you smile. Check out this other article on Steve Thomas and learn more about this artist.

Downtown Pleasanton by Steve Thomas

Gary Johnson Clock Sold! Going To New York!

Gary Johnson’s newest clock has found a home. Take a look at the photos of him taking the clock apart and taking it away to crate it up and send it to New York.

Gary was born and raised in the Mojave Desert, where from an early age, he developed a fascination with figuring out how things worked.

After spending much time during his childhood taking things apart and putting them back together (with mixed results), Gary focused and excelled in shop classes through high school, and was honored with the Bank of America Outstanding Achievement Award in Industrial Arts. At 19, he built a Ford Model T hot rod from scratch.

His projects evolved over time in terms of detail and complexity, as he added to his collection of tools (a collection which still continues to grow). Making his own Christmas gifts for many years helped build his woodworking skill set.

He built his first clock 18 years ago, a project that took 3 years to perfect & still evolves today.

Gary's third clock won Best of Show in the Alameda County Fair, and his fourth clock took the same award at the California State Fair in 1994.

As interest grew in Gary's creations, people took note and he was invited to display his work in high-end galleries in such places as Carmel & Half Moon Bay, CA.

At the beginning of 2008, Gary has built a total of 49 clocks, some of which are owned and displayed across the country and as far away as Japan & South Korea.

Gary Johnson currently lives in the town of Coarsegold, in the Yosemite Sierra region of California.

Gary is working on a new clock for Studio Seven Arts, keep checking in with us to see when it arrives!

San Francisco Pieces by Tyler Abshier

A resident of Modesto, California, Tyler Abshier began his professional career painting the flat landscapes of the Central Valley. Anchoring his compositions with the country roads that emphasized a strong sense of perspective, Tyler hoped to capture the understated beauty that he felt the surrounding farmland possessed, allowing viewers to see it in a new, more favorable light. These paintings proved popular, and their success allowed him to improve his work and expand his range into new landscapes.

Today Tyler Abshiers work includes landscapes throughout central California, from the coast to the Sierra Nevada, all executed in a sharp-edged, painterly style that he calls 'methodical impressionism.' He exhibits regularly at galleries in Modesto, Studio Seven Arts in Pleasanton, and Sacramento.

The images here in this post are the newest pieces by Tyler Abshier and we will keep you posted when he brings in new pieces.

Fun Dogs and Colorful Birds by Mylette Welch

New Artist Todd Goldman

Todd is like everybody else. As a child, he had a dream.
A dream to become a Russian figure skater. 

But unfortunately for Todd, he wasn’t Russian and he couldn’t ice skate worth crap...but he still looks good in tights.So Todd began to draw and is now a professional doodler.Todd’s doodles can be seen on hundreds of products that are sold all over the world.
He works at the Stoopid Factory where all his doodles are turned into stuff.
You can see his doodles on tee shirts, pyjamas, books, paintings, greeting cards, toys, games, emojis, and even cartoons.

Todd contributes his success to one a simple philosophy – making people laugh! 
Whether they're laughing at him or with him, doesn't really matter, just as long as they're laughing.

Todd lives with his daughter, Elle, and dog Muppet. They act as a sounding board to most of his ideas. And Elle, at 8, is a far better artist than Todd. Duh!

Todd spends most of his day writing and doodling in his studio and coming up with his next great idea...even if Elle thinks it's stupid, which is 99% of the time.

We Are Hopping With New Frogs

New Pieces from Tyler Abshier

New Artist Susan Greer

Susan Greer, a Bay Area native, is best known for her iconic Northern California landscapes. Expressive brushstrokes, elegant simplified forms, and a rhythmic quality of the natural world work their way into her paintings in a way that stirs an emotional sense of place. Her paintings embody a serene sensitivity that is both soulful and honest. Viewing her work, one is transported to a calm, peaceful corner of the world. Susan’s paintings - depicting the land she knows and loves - hang in private and corporate collections around the world.  

Debbie Wadrope Teaching a Friday Class

Friday night art fun with local PLeasanton artist Debbie Wardrope, Debbie started the class at 5:30 and it will end at 7:30, she is teaching her six students how to paint sunflowers. What a nice night it is to stroll down the main street, maybe have a bite to eat and shop at the local stores!