Two artists and a museum director motivated a capacity crowd during the opening-night presentations at the Plein Air Convention & Expo, which just concluded in Monterey, California. Find out who stirred the crowd with laughter, information, and challenges.
Minnesota artist Joe Paquet launched the evening program by challenging artists in the packed audience to find motivation from within themselves and not from outside influences. He talked about his personal journey as a painter and read quotes from notable artists and writers who might help artists attending the convention remain focused on a higher mission. His presentation was followed by an amusing and informative presentation by James Gurney on the history and key aspects of outdoor painting, including a video of him trying to paint while riding a unicycle. Gurney encouraged the audience to take advantage of the information he shares on his website and blog.
Jean Stern, the executive director of the Irvine Museum in Irvine, California, offered an illustrated lecture on the work of Franz A. Bischoff (1864-1929), a painter who first established himself as a china painter and then as an accomplished landscape and still life artist. Stern also talked briefly about the history of plein air painting in California and the merits of artists working directly from nature.
(Due to the age of this post, some images may be missing from this article. View our latest posts OutdoorPainter.com.)
