Painting “en plein aire”

The Grade 10 visual arts classes went on a field trip to the Gardens at Government House to experience what it’s like to draw “en plein aire” (outdoors) much like the impressionists did in the nineteenth century. The activity will also serve as inspiration for an oil pastel artwork which will be done in the style of the impressionist. They will attempt to create the effects of light using short, thick strokes of colour to capture the essence of the object rather than the subjects detail. The Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, such as Vincent Van Gogh created impressions of the world with their techniques of small brush strokes, application of colours and the attempt to capture the essence of the subject, rather than its details. In their current unit, the students are exploring art styles from this period.