Alan Maciag, “A Day’s Work,” oil

Creative 360’s gallery in Midland, Michigan, is the proud host of a magnetic exhibition featuring 125 beautiful paintings of the farms and fields of Midland County.

With a nod to local farmers and the Midwest, Creative 360 recently opened a significant show of 125 paintings executed en plein air and in studio by Alan Maciag.  Via the press release, “Many guests at the exhibit opening exclaimed proudly, ‘That painting is my farm!’ as they pointed out one of his [Maciag] exquisite works.  Maciag forged many new friendships as he knocked at farm house doors to ask if he could spend time painting on their properties.  Not everyone gave him an eager welcome at first.  Now, after developing a reputation with farm families, he often has people call with an offer to let him paint on their land.  The result is a collection of paintings that includes farm houses, implements, corn fields, livestock, and hay bales.

Alan Maciag, “Golden Flowers,” oil

“Maciag’s rural landscapes are a balance between form, distance, color and content.  This balance creates a sense of calm and bucolic reverence for the rural heritage of Michigan.  ‘It is as though you have been given a gift; to simply ‘step in’ for a moment and be surrounded by the spirit capture on that canvas,’ Maciag explained.

Alan Maciag, “Hauling Bales,” oil

“In the awaking light of early morning you might find him sitting in nature capturing the essence of the visual moments presented before him.  Maciag, who started his craft when he was 42, says he uses no formulas for painting, but has learned to trust his own vision to find the truth before him.

Alan Maciag, “July Morning,” oil

“’As a plein air painter, I channel all my sensory faculties to absorb the truth in sight complemented by the atmosphere around me.  This is the basis of plein air painting—to see nature not as form, but rather light on form,’ he said.”

To learn more, visit Creative 360.

This article was featured in PleinAir Today, a weekly e-newsletter from PleinAir magazine. To start receiving PleinAir Today for free, click here.


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