East Wing: “Landscapes of Algonquin”

Here, artists share with you some of the many spectacular vistas that Algonquin embodies: blazing autumn horizons flagged with ancient white pines, gnarled rocky outcrops of the ancient Canadian shield, and lakes that mirror skies. These paintings exhume a spirit of place beyond the acrylics and canvas.

Consult our “Map of Origins,” and you will be able to locate the exact place that inspired some paintings.

Paint What You Know About - Phil Chadwick

Plein air painting allows that. In fact, it encourages it! Out in nature, surrounded by inspiration, an artist can’t help but feel the immediate environment: the sun, clouds, wind, rain, snow, bugs... The artist embraces the subject. There is no interpreter or filter separating the artist from the subject. The result is an honest interpretation of the real world. The magic occurs when the feelings somehow get into the paint and on to the canvas as well.

The artistic experience could end there. However the real miracle occurs when a patron views the art, is familiar with the environment and feels the same stimulation as the artist. The patron goes “en plein air” and the artistic experience comes full circle – everyone feels, everyone learns and everyone enjoys.

The challenge of plein air painting is the fleeting moment of the open air world. Capturing the light, colour and essence of an ephemeral subject in an instant, is a daunting challenge. This is what keeps artists going out each day to paint en plein air. The challenge is always present. Changes in the subject can bamboozle the finest artist and turn a canvas into an excellent and very colourful fire starter. The Holy Grail is to create a canvas which becomes the artist’s new favourite.

This challenge of plein air is also its main strength. The fleeting moment of inspiration does not permit a photographic rendition. The subject must be captured with the broadest of strokes, with the boldest of colours and in the twinkling of an eye. The art must be loose and painterly and if successful, impart even more feeling and emotion than a pictorial likeness. The vitality of the stroke and paint is imparted to the subject and breathes life into the art beneath the skin of the pigment. There is little danger of over-working a plein air canvas - the subject will be long gone.

The success of the artistic circle relies on the artist meeting these challenges. The artist aspires to intensify the artistic experience by receiving the most inspiration from the moment and encapsulating that on the canvas. For me, that is a plein air experience. At this point, the artist’s job is done.

The success of the artistic circle hinges equally on finding the patron. The measure of artistic success is the intensity felt by that like minded patron upon viewing the art. Artists care deeply about this success but most never know. I doubt if Tom Thomson realized how truly successful he was.

I know the weather and I continue to learn about the environment. In fact, I continue to learn about the weather. Painting outside immerses me in the elements that I understand and love. These natural elements inspire me. Plein air is for me, the only way… and one tries to get better with each passing day – with each breath of fresh air. I carry the canvas and the memory of the plein air adventure with me and leave only a footprint if anything at all - and that is all I know about that… Paint what you know about…