Plein Air and East Coast Light
It’s annoying to some and charming to others, but hardly unusual. It’s hardly common, either. Seeing someone painting in the middle of a particularly stunning public place happens enough that it doesn’t seem entirely extraordinary, but it is often quite remarkable. Whether it’s on the edges of a gorgeous expanse of mountains, or on the beach on a splendid day, when someone is painting right next to you, it does tend to serve as another reminder that this is a beautiful place.
The tradition of painting in the open is one that likely has origins from a very long time ago, when painters decided to paint images on the outside of the cave walls. In terms of technique and formalization, it has its roots pretty firmly planted in France in the 19th century. Called painting “en plein air”, the Plein Air school is one that travels well, and certainly has found a home in North America.
Its first proponents were the Impressionists, who were singularly obsessed with the qualities of light, and the coasts of France were and are terrifically inspiring. This is because the light could shift drastically during the course of a day, and even on still days the diffusion has an extraordinary effect on the visual senses. It is the same kind of attention to visual detail that draws people on the east coast of the United States to pay attention to the light. Anyone who’s carefully browsed through Rockville NextDayBlinds, or window treatment ideas in Southern Florida, has come across certain moments that do indeed transcend out of the ordinary and into art. 
This kinds of heightened awareness is part of what makes certain moments of aesthetic appreciation more uncanny than others. It’s not that the North American Plein Air artists are seeing things that no one else has ever noticed, but quite the opposite. People have noticed these remarkable shifts in the landscape because of changes in light, and to see them painted is a reflection of a very personal memory. It’s not always a visit to a Next Day Blinds Rockville showroom that can remind people of the extraordinary light on the east coast, but it definitely helps to frame the spectacular views that happen there. The blinds can become very much like the frame of a painting, then, but to see the transitory view captured in oil and water is something else entirely. A painting is, in effect, like a frozen window, looking into the memory of the eyes of the soul.
Image source: http://usuarios.lycos.es/ramoncasas/obra/pintura/imatge/rc90_plenairb.jpg
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For those that enjoy art, sitting outside on a nice day and painting can be a great way to reflect and relive stress. With so much stress about the economy, jobs, and managing the finances, painting can be a real escape from reality.