A Plein Air Painting “One to Watch” Spotlight > Meisha Grichuhin (b. 1987) studied painting at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, and earned her Bachelor of Fine Art’s degree in 2015, with the honor of valedictorian. Growing up in California, she was constantly inspired by nature and the majestic landscapes the state has to offer. By spending much time outdoors painting and hiking, she observes her natural surroundings, whose freshness can be felt through her paintings. Her work consists primarily of painterly landscapes filled with bold brushwork, featuring the unique atmosphere of California’s rolling hills.
One to Watch: Meisha Grichuhin on Composition and Confidence
Why I paint outside: It’s immediate — I only have a couple of hours before the light changes. That urgency forces me to focus but also to just go for it and get the paint down on the panel, which is meditative in its own way. All of my senses are activated, so the sounds, smells, breeze, temperature, and conversations with passersby all get bound up in the painting.
What catches my eye: I have to feel excited about the subject — it doesn’t need to be some breathtaking scene, just compelling. It could be the atmosphere, light, or composition that draws me in. Sometimes I need to adjust the design to highlight the element that attracted me in the first place, but as long as I can showcase it, I’m a happy camper.
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Aha moment: Outdoors, there’s no time to overthink. You have to dive in and be bold. Of course, you need to have a sense of where you’re trying to go, but you can always re-evaluate and change course. I still think of something John Burton told me: “I may not be right, but I am certain.”
Epic plein air fail: I’ve dropped more than one fresh painting in the sand — including one time when I wasn’t even at the beach! During one paint-out, I picked a spot to set up at a park, next to a children’s playground. As I tried to carefully slide the finished piece into my carrier, it caught on one of the corners and nose-dived into the sand. I scraped off as many granules as I could with a palette knife and repainted the area that took the biggest hit. Instant texture!
Biggest influence: Paul Kratter, one of my first plein air instructors, taught me the importance of good composition and accurate values. He also encouraged me to take my work seriously, but to have fun in the process.
What I want viewers to feel: I hope they sense what it felt like to be there — the sunlight filtering through the trees, the subtle colors of the coast on a gray day, the smell of the forest, the cool sea breeze. I want to give them a little piece of that outdoor experience indoors.
Advice I wish I’d had earlier: I’m sure there are always going to be things I wish I knew sooner, but some lessons only click with time and experience. At this point, I’m still trying to find my way in the art world. My main concern is getting as good as I possibly can without losing the joy of painting — I think you can tell in an artist’s work when that happens.
Plan B career: Honestly, I’ve never found anything I love as much as painting. For sure, there are more stable careers out there, but I’m all in. Maybe in another life I could have been an interior designer — I love creating beautiful, comfortable spaces.
Website: meishagrichuhin.com
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Blog post prepared for the web by Cherie Dawn Haas, Editor of Plein Air Today
