I received a degree in art and have been painting for many years.  Most of my art has been created in the studio under artificial light, and my subject matter has been taken from my photographs of flowers and landscapes.  I had time to think about composition and execution and my technique was controlled and hard edge.  This has been very rewarding, but I have discovered a new and different challenge:  the art of plein air painting.

Plein air painting is a new learning experience.  Everything is so different from what I had learned and practiced in the past.  I am painting in pure sunlight.  This is very challenging because natural light is not constant; it is always changing.   Because of this, I have to think quickly about composition and immediately start painting in order to capture the moment.  I have learned a totally new and different style of painting with plein air painting.  I am learning to use large brushes with larger and looser brush strokes.

Here are my personal key words in relation to plein air painting:  light, openness, observation, colors, shapes, lines and interpretation.

Joyce Tamura