“Plein air was popular in Mexico from 1870 to the late 1990s,” says artist Jorge Obregón. “We even had a school called Escuela de Pintura al Aire Libre that was founded in 1913 and ran until the 1940s. Since then the tradition of painting outdoors has become less popular. Now there are just a few of us who continue the practice.
“Painting on location, I try to take my work to about 80 percent completion, then finish it in my studio from memory and photos. If I need more direct observation, I will return to the site, sometimes more than once.
“My favorite subjects include volcanoes and mountains, but I’m also drawn to desert and ocean views. I’m especially interested in representing scenes at sunrise or sunset because I cherish the particular warm light contrasts in the atmosphere. In fact, the quality of air is often what draws me to a scene, especially when I climb volcanoes above 15,000 feet, where the atmosphere becomes very special and clear.
“When we paint outdoors, we engage all our senses; we perceive the nature of the landscape by smelling, listening, hearing, touching, and feeling the temperature. Walking through the landscape heightens our understanding of the space in which we are immersed and enriches the work.”
Connect with the artist at instagram.com/jorgeobregonpintor.
Editor’s Note: Join us for the 6th Annual Plein Air Live online art conference, featuring Kathleen Hudson, Kevin Macpherson, Kami Mendlik, and many more! The event takes place November 6-8, 2025, with an Essential Techniques Day on November 5. Learn more at PleinAirLive.com.
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