Throughout the summer and early fall, Green Bay Botanical Garden has teamed up with The Art Garage for Artists in the Garden, where local artists are invited to create plein air art! Through this partnership, artists are offered vouchers for free Garden admission every Tuesday evening through September 23 (please see the Art Garage’s website for admission details). 

Anyone can be an artist, but it may feel a little intimidating to take the leap into creating your own plein air art – but with these tips and tricks, you’ll be all set to start your next masterpiece at the Garden!

What is plein air art?

The phrase “plein air” is French for “outdoors,” or “in open air” – meaning plein air art is art that’s created outdoors and inspired by elements in your surroundings! At the Garden, we have several outdoor elements that will be the perfect subject for your next masterpiece — beautiful blooms, spectacular structures, and so much more! For location inspiration, check out our recent video. 

One of the benefits of plein air art is that you’re able to experience your subject material first-hand, rather than just looking at a reference photo. On top of that, creating art while immersed in nature helps you better connect to the natural world around you, and offers a unique perspective to your art

Materials to Bring

You can create plein air art using almost any medium, but some materials are a bit more beginner-friendly than others. If you’re new to the plein air practice, it might be easier to start small and work your way up — before investing in an easel, try a drawing board or clipboard. Instead of bringing multiple tubes of oil paint and a giant canvas, you might want to start with a smaller pan of watercolors and a pad of paper (plus, smaller materials are easier to transport!). 

Garden artists are welcome to bring any materials during their visit, from sketchbooks and colored pencils to easels and oil paints! If you’re planning on bringing a cart or wagon to help transport your supplies, you might want to check out our Garden Map, which will show you our wheel-friendly paths (depicted in light gray). 

Artmaking Tips

Now that you’ve got your materials, it’s time to start creating! When you’re creating art outdoors, things can change quickly — light can shift, shadows can transform, and plants can sway in the wind. This means that it’s important to move quickly and focus on capturing your environment in bold strokes rather than fixating on small details. If you’re someone who likes realism, this could be a great opportunity to try something more expressive! 

Because your light source will constantly be shifting, it can be helpful to focus on the entire artwork at once when working outdoors. Rather than focusing all of your attention on a few specific areas, start by mapping out your entire composition and constantly working across your canvas to keep it consistent – otherwise, you might end up with completely different lighting on either side of your artwork! 

Add Detail with Reference Photos

While the essence of plein air art is about being in the moment while creating, you might want to revisit your work and add some extra details. If you’re planning on fine-tuning your artwork after your plein air session is done, don’t forget to take a few reference photos! 

With this introduction to plein air art, you’re ready to embark on your first masterpiece! Remember, art takes practice – so don’t worry if your first few plein air attempts aren’t quite museum-worthy. If you create art in (or inspired by) the Garden, don’t forget to tag us on social media!