Art exhibit opens

Area artists are giving viewers a special glimpse of nature caught on canvas.

The public is invited to observe the open air perspective of several painters during the “En Plein Air…Plus” opening reception and exhibit on Sept. 9 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Carolina Artist Studio Gallery in Morehead City.

En plein air is a French expression for “in the open air,” or painting outside using a natural light setting. Carolina Artist Studio provided extra space for more than 70 pieces of art by nine artists from The Onslow Outdoor Painting Society, or OOPS, and the Oriental Painting Group. The artists included are Eleanor McArver of Morehead City, Bernie Rosage Jr. of Jacksonville, Mitchell Morton of Hubert, Anne Ward of Emerald Isle, Susan Cheatham of Arapahoe, Bob Pittman and Sue Henry of Oriental and Beth Conley and George Hunter of New Bern. Although plein air painting is a centuries-old technique, the art form has recently become more popular in Eastern North Carolina. This reception and exhibit will allow visitors to meet local plein air artists, ask questions about their works and even purchase paintings to hang in their own homes.

“They are so glad to show their work and educate the public on what plein air painting is. Some people ask what it means, and it’s basically painting outside,” McArver said. “You encounter so many different things while you’re painting outside, you don’t know if it is wind, rain, mosquitoes, a high tide or all kinds of fun things.”

Plein air groups meet frequently in various locations to recreate the landscapes and sceneries around them through oil, watercolor, acrylic and other mediums.

“What we do is study the light atmosphere and how it affects what we see,” said McArver, who is also the exhibit coordinator. “Natural light is always fleeting so we have to remember what we saw. Shadows and clouds change everything, so it’s basically like you’re trying to stop time.”

McArver said that en plein air painting is a visually rewarding experience for the painter. She has spent the past six years mastering the technique and meeting other artists of various backgrounds who enjoy it just as much.

“We try to see things and interpret it so others can see the same inspiration,” she said. “People are so busy that they don’t go and appreciate God’s creation. Maybe it will make them stop in time reflect on what’s there and have that visual appreciation that goes into your sprit and your soul.”

Rosage and Morton, both OOPS members with years of plein air art experience, will have several outdoor paintings in the exhibit they have painted side by side in a variety of plein air events.

“Personally what l love about it is that it’s my way to commune with nature,” he said. “To be outside is more than just painting because it feeds all the senses; it builds up an intimate relationship with the actual painting that you’re working on because of all of the stuff around you.”

The artists agree that this show will give visitors a chance to be equally fascinated with the many different viewpoints of nature. Although plein air artists often paint the same sceneries, each has a unique way of seeing the world around them.  

 “The neat thing about OOPS or any artist is that you’re all looking at the same scenes and seeing different styles and you will actually get to look through that artist’s eyes of what that scene looks like,” Rosage said.