In the Plein Air Painting Community > Ellen Howard was an invited artist and VIP at this year’s Desert Plein Air Competition in California. Here, she shares her inspiration for the two paintings she entered, and her gratitude for the plein air community.
Standing Tall
By Ellen Howard
January carried me back to the open, luminous desert of Palm Desert for this year’s Desert Plein Air Competition – a week where paint, light, learning, and friendship quietly intertwined. The desert speaks in its own language. Its softened horizons, expansive skies, and subtle color shifts invite a slower way of seeing, reminding me each morning that presence is as essential as preparation.
This year, I entered the competition with two paintings that reflect different aspects of my artistic practice. In the studio, I completed “Whispers of Spring,” inspired by Borrego’s unforgettable super bloom – a celebration of those rare seasons when the desert briefly erupts into color and abundance.
On location, I painted directly from the landscape and submitted my plein air piece, “Standing Tall,” shaped by changing light, wind, and the immediacy of working outdoors:
I was drawn to that scene right away – not for its symbolism alone, but for its quiet balance. A lone palm tree anchored the composition against layered mountain ranges, while the road winding through the wash offered a gentle sense of movement and passage. The variety of distant mountains especially captivated me, each range carrying its own rhythm and color, reminding me how much complexity and nuance exist within what might first appear simple.
Painting on location reaffirmed why plein air work continues to matter so deeply to me: the constant negotiation between intention and surprise, structure and intuition. Each decision is shaped not just by what we see, but by how fully we are willing to respond.
As always, the deepest meaning of the week extended far beyond the finished paintings. While plein air painting can feel solitary at times, gatherings like this reveal how communal the experience truly is. I had the joy of painting alongside my dear friend and gifted artist Kim Lordier, whose generosity of spirit and keen artistic eye continually inspire me. Conversations with master painter Don Demers offered fresh insights into design, value, and the quiet poetry of paint – gentle reminders that growth never ends. I also loved spending time with fellow artists and learning more about their work, from Jackie Jones’s quiet, elegant landscapes to Mark Kerhoff’s bold, graphic approach, and so many others whose passion added depth to the week.
There is something uniquely meaningful about standing side by side with artists in the open air, each interpreting the same scene through a personal lens. We trade stories, share struggles, laugh at our missteps, and celebrate one another’s successes. In those moments, competition fades into the background, becoming simply a framework for connection. The true reward is the camaraderie – the exchange of ideas and the shared pursuit of seeing more deeply.
Connect with Ellen Howard at ellenhowardart.com.
