Why Paint En Plein Air? Why Paint with Others?

Why paint outdoors? Why paint with others? The reasons are personal, but the benefits are universal. Over the past year, I’ve rediscovered the joy of watercolour, and through plein air painting and a supportive art group, I’ve seen my creativity grow in ways I never expected.

I painted as a kid, but as an adult, I moved toward computer-based design, teaching, and animation to make a living. People often ask why I started painting again, and I have no simple answer. The short version: I painted a picture of my dogs and remembered how much I loved the challenge. The longer version likely involves becoming an empty-nester and searching for something new. It may have also been a response to the rise of AI—a desire to focus on something more tangible, more human. Watercolour, with its unpredictability, offers an endless balance between control and surrender, a dynamic and fascinating dance between artist and medium.

Over the past year, I’ve shared more than 100 paintings on Instagram. By the time I reached my 56th, I decided to step outside my comfort zone and join a newly formed plein air group run by Three Pees Creations. Being in this group helped me push past personal barriers and rekindle a passion I hadn’t felt since my teenage years. My gratitude for this community is what prompts me to write.

The Challenges of Painting Outdoors

Painting outside presents unique challenges. The weather is unpredictable—wind and rain can disrupt the process, light shifts quickly, and flies and mosquitoes test your patience. The paint may dry too fast in the sun or stay too wet on a cool misty morning.

Beyond these physical hurdles, painting in front of others can feel daunting. I worried about judgment, about whether I belonged, about curious onlookers stopping to ask what I was doing. But I soon realized that these small discomforts were far outweighed by the rewards.

What Plein Air Brings to Art

Although my reasons for embracing plein air painting are personal, I find it more meaningful to share insights from master artist Joseph Zbukvic. I was fortunate to meet and learn from him in my youth, but it took 20 years for his words to truly resonate. (His book is rare but highly recommended.)

“If I had to name one single factor that lifted my work away from the ordinary, it would be my journeys into the Great Studio Outside. I cannot overemphasize the importance of working on location. It is crucial. Initially, I did it out of sheer ignorance. I watched artists in movies and thought that was how it was done. Thank goodness for the ignorance of youth. When I judge art competitions, it’s easy to see which paintings were done exclusively in the studio [...] In my opinion, these paintings lack the freshness and spontaneity of work done on location.”

Simple yet profound - plein air painting fosters freshness and spontaneity. I will add that it’s not just about the paintings—it’s about the artist’s mindset. The controlled environment of a studio can make the process predictable, and that predictability can seep into the work itself. Painting outdoors, however, is dynamic, reactive, and untamed. The very challenges it presents—shifting light, changing conditions, the need for quick decision-making—bring an energy that carries over into all our work, whether done in the field or back in the studio.

The Power of Painting with Others

On painting with others, Joseph writes:

“The company of other artists inspired me to work harder [...] Exchanging ideas with other artists is extremely beneficial because it is too easy to become insular in our lonely profession. This isolation reflects in our paintings, making them one-dimensional. Competition with others is sometimes the best form of motivation.”

While Joseph used the word competition, I believe he was speaking more to the way artists challenge and elevate one another. It’s not about rivalry—it’s about growth. Seeing others experiment, struggle, and succeed creates an environment where we all push ourselves in ways we might not alone. Art books can teach technique, but shared experience fosters artistic evolution.

An Invitation

At its heart, this post is an invitation to fellow creatives in Armidale. I’m immensely grateful to Kate, who runs our local plein air group, for fostering a welcoming space and organizing locations for artistic pursuits that—without such efforts—might fade into the background. I’m also grateful to our members for putting up with my quirks, like the time I may have over-excitedly and without invitation launched into a rant on how "watercolour is like a game of soccer!" 😅

If you’re curious about painting outdoors or creating in the company of others, consider giving it a go. We have painters, writers, ukulele players—it’s all art. At its core, the process is simple: create, reflect, and create again. And while you can do that alone, you might find it even more rewarding while sitting under a tree, in the company of others who are doing the same.