A Cherokee chief in Kentucky was quoted as saying to Daniel Boone: “Brother, we have given you a fine land, but I believe you will have much trouble in settling it.”
The Wild Lands of Kentucky
Even today, much of the forests in Kentucky are untamed and dense. Chestnut trees may not grow here anymore, but the massive white oaks are still around, towering above hundreds of other species of trees that canvas the hills and valleys in much of Eastern and Western Kentucky.
(Estill County, Kentucky - The Entryway Into the Eastern Appalachias)
Wild turkeys still roam freely all over. I keep warning Timothy, the wild turkey that adopted our yard, to stay away from the road so that he doesn’t become somebody’s Thanksgiving dinner. He turns his head to make eye contact and quietly gobbles to himself as he slowly backs away and slips into the woods behind our house for a few minutes, waiting for me to disappear back into the house before he ventures back out.
(Timothy, the wild turkey that lives in our backyard.)
It is Not Just About Trees & Turkeys (Well, Maybe It Is…)
Large swatches of Kentucky are still very wild. Much of the land, forests, caverns, ponds, creeks, rivers, lakes, hills, hollers and historical landmarks are untamed and full of beauty; waiting to be captured by artists, photographers, hikers and adventurers and shared with the world.
(Photo of Creation Falls in Red River Gorge, Kentucky)
What is Painting “En Plein Air”?
Painting outdoors, or painting “en plein air” first became popular by French Impressionist painters in the late 1700’s who wanted to capture the changing light on landscapes during different times of the day. Monet is probably the most widely known plein air painter. The Hudson River School painters were also painting en plein air in America in the mid 1800’s. They portrayed realistic detailed nature and believed the American landscape was a reflection of God.
(Painting by Thomas Cole, Found of the Hudson River School of Painting)
The Tradition is Alive!
Plein air artists can be found all over the world. One of the first art groups I connected with when I moved to Kentucky was the Plein Air Artists of Central Kentucky. My first outing with that group was at a nature reserve. I began to paint en plein air several years ago at Manifest Gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio and I have been a plein air enthusiast ever since. Plein air painting encompasses my 3 favorite things in life:
1.) Being outdoors
2.) Marveling at nature
3.) Painting nature
(Painting at a private residence with 250+ year old architecture near Danville, Ky.)
(Painting at a private residence with 250+ year old architecture near Danville, Ky.)
Where Do Plein Air Artists Go to Paint?
Plein air artist groups meet outdoors during the warmer months. Sometimes the Kentucky groups meet at historical sites or private properties that offer sweeping vistas and layers of farm or forest landscapes. On occasion, one day in particular might stand out as special to us.
One of my first treasured Kentucky paint outs was at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill outside of Lexington, KY. Painting a 250 year-old flower garden and old Shaker guest house was a complete delight. The late afternoon light, the vivid colors and the stories of the past all merged into a lovely day of painting.
One of my first treasured Kentucky paint outs was at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill outside of Lexington, KY. Painting a 250 year-old flower garden and old Shaker guest house was a complete delight. The late afternoon light, the vivid colors and the stories of the past all merged into a lovely day of painting.
(The Flower Garden at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill in Kentucky)
When I try to find words to describe that day and that scene, I repeatedly come up with the word “magical”. The weather was hot, but beautiful, full of flowers and happy buzzing bees. Tours of Shaker Village were closed, so it was quiet and serene sitting under the shade of a large maple tree. The hum of bees over the flower garden, everything flowed together in a rhythm. The only word that fits that day was "enchanting".
Painting En Plein Air is For Everyone!
Painting outdoors is a heavenly experience for lovers of the outdoors and for ANYBODY interested in making art. I lose track of time whilst out in the middle of the hum of crickets and cicadas, surrounded by happy chattering birds, and the soft sounds of leaves rustling and falling.
(An abandoned golf course makes for a great field landscape painting.)
Each artist has their our own way of painting and we each use all mediums. Some of us work with pencil or charcoal, maybe we sketch or paint with watercolor or gouache or chalk pastels. Some of us are strictly oil painters and some acrylic. Some are collage artists, carefully shaping paper to replicate the lay of the land/water/foliage/sky.
The best part of painting outdoors is that ANYBODY can do it! As long as you have a love for being in nature, you are able to select a scene you feel a connection to, and if you have a desire to capture the beauty that surrounds you - you won't regret trying it!
About the Author
Jennifer Millard is a plein air artist living in eastern Kentucky in a small rural town near the Kentucky River, about 30 minutes from Red River Gorge. In warmer months, Jennifer can be found painting outdoor landscapes that capture the cultural, historical and dreamlike essence of the land, water, trees and wildlife.