Plein Air Painters in Mississippi: traveling

Sunday, August 12, 2018

The Gut Punch of Beauty- by Jerrod Partridge

By guest blogger, artist Jerrod Partridge of Ocean Springs, MS

Jerrod Partridge on a balcony in Florence. All images ©|Jerrod Partridge

Recently, I was sketching on one of the overlooks at the medieval Italian town of San Gimignano. As I was translating the vastness of the scene with pen and ink I began to notice a universal language coming from the diverse group of passers by.
People walked the incline of cobble street that’s only about eight feet wide, with arches overhead and architecture on either side exposing hundreds of years of history, and came to a sudden opening in the buildings which exposes one of the most stunning vistas Tuscany has to offer. It is a stunning patchwork quilt of the iconic elements of the area; vineyards, olive groves, Italian Cypress, and ancient buildings with terracotta rooftops. The response to this view was usually not “wow” or “ooh” or “aah”, but a noise that started with an “m” sound and ended with a short burst of air through the nose. It’s the same noise made when you’re hit in the stomach. So I’m calling this universal language the gut punch of beauty.

My wife, Jessie and I have had the pleasure of leading people on trips to Tuscany for the past six years. The primary focus of these trips is to have a meaningful and memorable experience with the people, places, environment, and cuisine of Tuscany and to do that through the art making processes of drawing and painting. We call these Visual Explorations.

While not everyone on our trips consider themselves “artists”, we encourage them to use a pencil, pen or paint to really see their surroundings. When you sit in a spot for 30 minutes to 2 hours recording your observations you have a far deeper experience with the place than quickly walking by and snapping a few photos. (side note - Serious photographers incorporate the same slow, thoughtful and measured response to a scene as a person drawing or painting. ) But whether or not you get a “good” drawing from the experience is not the main point. It does feel good to achieve that, but the main point is the experience.

So it was on our most recent Visual Explorations trips where I observed this universal language in San Gimignano. I have specific memories when I’ve had a gut punch response to things. The Sistine Chapel at The Vatican is one, and John Singer Sargent’s portrait of Lady Agnew in Scotland is another. I remember these vividly because the gut punch of beauty leaves a scar.

As artists we can only hope to one day create something which causes this reaction from someone. But in the meantime we show off the scars left from these experiences by doing a drawing, organizing a painting, writing a story, or composing music. We keep swinging and one day we may just land a solid hit.

About Jerrod

Jerrod is a full-time studio artist in Ocean Springs, MS. He currently has a solo exhibition at Southside Gallery in Oxford, MS which will be on view through September 8.

You can see photos from all of his past Visual Explorations trips on his recently redesigned website http://www.jerrodpartridge.com/visual-exploration. And if you're interested in experiencing Tuscany in a medieval castle on a working organic farm with lessons in drawing, painting, and traditional cooking, their 2019 trip is scheduled for July 19-26. Contact him at painterjerrod@gmail.com for more info.

A big thanks to Jerrod Partridge for his story!

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Follow this blog about Mississippi artists. In the coming weeks, this site will be publishing contributed articles by several plein air painters from the state of Mississippi.

Contact Dot Courson at artist@dotcourson.com to find out how to contribute.

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Sunday, July 15, 2018

Life as an Artist

By guest Bloger, artist Beth Dean of Madison, MS

Beth plein air sketching in Istria 2018

Beginning:

Painting has always a huge part of my life since an early age. I learned to paint en plein air when I was 8 years old from a well-known local artist, Myra Green of Jackson, MS. (Of course, nobody in Mississippi CALLED it “en plein air” way back then…..we were just painting outside! ) Myra always had me paint outdoors from life, not photos. Her wisdom in teaching was in not showing me how to paint a tree, but instructing me to really LOOK at the tree and paint what I saw. What a gift to me as a young child to learn to paint this way! This is truly the heart and soul of painting en plein air.

Returning:

Over the years, I painted off and on, with long breaks due to running a business, raising children and life in general. After retiring in 1998, I returned to my life-long dream as a professional artist. I have had the privilege to study from many accomplished artists who have continued my education, stretched my knowledge and encouraged me. Combining plein air painting with my travel wanderings is an on-going obsession for me.

Beth’s 9” x 12” plein air painting in Harbor of Korcula 2018

Beth painting with her students in Croatia 2018

Expanding:

I recognized several years ago, while traveling with 2 young sons in tow, that painting with oils en plein air was not always practical. Sketching became my next-best thing. My incredibly-gifted-sketcher/architect husband and I gave each son his own sketch book, so it started our travel ritual to sketch at some point every day. ( I find that most children are natural artists and it was a great way to keep them occupied while waiting for food to arrive!) Over the years, this ritual has added dimension to my direct observation of real life, and has created a tangible memory of wonderful experiences. I strongly encourage daily sketching, and particularly Travel Sketch Journaling, to artists and to non-artists alike. You will be surprised how much this will improve your painting and enrich your life.

Travel Sketch example

Beth teaching Travel Sketch Journaling 2018

On-going:

Painting, like life, is not a destination, it is a journey…... And as that old adage goes: Drawing will always make you a better painter, but painting will never make you a better drawer. With these two thoughts in mind, I continue to draw and paint from direct observation daily. Well, as daily as possible!

I consider it a privilege and obligation to share my knowledge of painting with others, since other artists have graciously shared their knowledge with me. I frequently receive messages from people needing advice, encouragement, lessons or a painting buddy, and I welcome these opportunities. I am most grateful for the experiences and friendships that life as an artist has given me. Above all, I believe that we are to honor God in all that we do, with the talents and abilities He has given us. Colossians 3:17

Beth Dean is a Mississippi native who holds a BS in Interior Design from Mississippi State, with an elected emphasis in Renaissance Art History. She paints en plein air, is a studio painter, and an Urban Sketcher. Her studio is next to her home on a lake in Madison County. Beth travels frequently to paint and to sketch en plein air. She is partial to Italy, and loves adventure and discovering places where she gathers inspiration for her paintings.

Beth teaches plein air workshops, studio oil painting, and her most requested workshop, Travel Sketch Journaling. In September, Beth will be teaching a 1-Day Workshop in Helena, AR, where she is the Juror of “Helena on the Mississippi.....en Plein Air” paint-out competition.

You can see her work and contact her at:

www.bethdeanstudio.com

bethdeanstudio on Instagram

Beth Dean Studio on Facebook

Beth Dean Artist on Twitter

A big thanks to Beth Dean for her wonderful post!

Follow this blog about Mississippi artists. In the coming weeks, this site will be publishing works by several plein air painters from around Mississippi.