My First Plein Air Competition Experience

Yesterday, I participated in the second annual Jefferson City Art Club Plein Air event. Registration began at 6 am at McClung Indoor Pavilion, and painting time was from 6 am to 4 pm. This was my first time in a plein air competition, and I was excited to dive into it. After registering and paying the $50 fee, I headed to Runge Nature Center, loaded up a red canvas wagon with my gear, and found a great spot under a very large old oak tree. It provided a nice level piece of ground shaded by its mighty branches, though I quickly discovered it also meant a steady rain of heavy acorns falling around me—thankfully, none hit me in the head!

I created four paintings during the event. The first, an 18-inch by 36-inch canvas, featured a dead tree tucked into the woods along the Racoon Run trail. The second painting, on an 8-inch by 16-inch canvas, depicted a solo, skinny oak tree standing in a field. My third piece was a 16-inch by 20-inch canvas capturing a walking trail stretching into the woods. Finally, I painted a still life of three acorns on a small 5-inch square canvas. I even started a charcoal drawing but was too tired to finish it as the day wore on and the heat intensified.

Participating in this event reaffirmed my interest in plein air painting. I had always wanted to try it and had prepared by watching tutorials. I learned how to quickly layout an image and set up a split color palette to mix the necessary colors for landscapes. Sticking to my expressive style, I enjoyed using brushstrokes to add movement to the scenes.

The biggest challenge was starting with the large canvas; I probably should have chosen a smaller one to begin with. The scene turned out a bit too busy, lacking a clear subject. I also focused so much on finishing four pieces that I neglected to use a good mix of warm and cool color tones, which would have added more depth. The lighting conditions were another hurdle, shifting from overcast to sunny throughout the day, but I had learned from my studies that this was part of the plein air experience.

Despite these challenges, there were triumphs. My paintings, though not perfect, received many compliments, especially the little acorn still life. I also had wonderful interactions with fellow artists. The Jefferson City art community is incredibly supportive and encouraging. I was particularly excited to meet Janis Burgin, a local landscape guru who trained with Bob Ross himself!

Looking ahead, I plan to continue plein air painting to grow my skill set. The key to improvement in any art form is practice and living the experience, not just thinking about it. One memorable moment from the day involved a baby copperhead snake that I encountered under the large oak tree. We quietly regarded each other and then went our separate ways, much like the falling acorns that added a bit of unexpected excitement to the day.

Although I didn't win any ribbons, the experience was incredibly rewarding. I'm eager to head out in the mornings around my parents' property to keep practicing and refining my technique.

The Jefferson City Art Club is a wonderful, longstanding group. If you're interested in getting involved, check out their website.