Popularized by the French Impressionists of the early 1860s, "Plein Air" painting means to paint outdoors, a method that invites artists to better capture the details of changing weather and light.
Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park is a long way from Etaples on the Cote d’Opale, the site of the one of the most famous plein air artists colonies in northern France, where 19th century impressionists perfected the method, but it's close enough for Cochrane artists to experience the feeling of painting in the elements.
Starting May 20 and ending on May 24, the Route 22, Cochrane’s artists collective and gallery, is hosting a bunch of events for its annual Art in the Park festival. Every year for the past three years, artists from around the province and from right in Cochrane, join Route 22 at the Glenbow Ranch to plein air paint.
Art in the Park is an integral component of the Come Paint Alberta circuit, which marks a celebration of art and artists within Alberta’s natural landscapes. From May to September, nine different artists organizations in communities across the province, from Red Deer to Canmore, partake in Come Paint Alberta.
The seasonal artistic circuit is staggered to allow for plein air artists to enjoy different weekends, instead of forcing artists to pick one location over the other. Lindsay Corbet, the gallery manager with Route 22 in Cochrane, said that planners, as the events are called, were overlapping with one another, forcing artists who might otherwise attend every plein air, to pick just one.
“It’s about being outside, connecting with nature,” Corbet said. “Where else would you want to do it other than this area?”
Route 22 has organized day-long plein air painting sessions at the Glenbow Ranch Park this week. Starting at sunrise and ending at sunset, painters-- experts and professionals to newcomers and amateurs alike-- can head to the Glenbow to paint in the vast expanse. Registration, which can be done on the Route 22 website, is advised for any painter looking to attend a session.
All week Route 22’s gallery location in Cochrane’s historic downtown will be holding a Wet Paint Sale for the artwork created by participating artists at the plein air sessions. May 24, a Saturday, will be the festival's big Wet Paint Sale and Soiree event where the community can come and meet the participating plein air painters at the gallery.
As part of the Come Paint Alberta festivities, Route 22 is also hosting sessions at the Glenbow Ranch. The first of which, a plein air oil paint demo led by painter Marike MacDonald, will start at 10:00 am on May 23. At 1:00 pm. Artist Alice Helwig a liquitex tips and techniques demonstration, which is open to all ages.
On May 24, before the Wet Paint Sale and Soiree, artist Stephen Purdy will teach a landscape painting workshop beginning at 9:00 am, followed by a plein air watercolor demonstration by Trupti Karjinni at 1:00 pm.
Corbet advises that those looking to participate in the plein air festival understand that the events are very weather dependent, but limiting plein air artists is the last thing Route 22 wants to do.
“[But] plein air is more fun than indoor painting,” Corbet said.
