Plein Air vs Studio

I used to think that plein air works were something "better" than paintings created in the studio, painted from photographs. That plein air is the real test of an artist's skills - their ability to quickly capture light, color and atmosphere of the moment. At the beginning of my journey I met older artists who proudly emphasized that all their works were created in plein air. This naturally also influenced my own opinion.

Over time, however, I understood that both plein air and studio have their unique challenges and advantages, which don't so much exclude each other as mutually complement. Each of these environments serves a different purpose - and not every purpose has to be particularly "noble" to make sense. To see this, however, you need to emerge from the influence of first, often simplified beliefs and allow yourself to form your own opinion. What I write, is therefore also MY opinion - and of course everyone has the right to have their own! :-)

Maybe let's start with the studio (or workshop), because most of us know what it looks like and there will be no surprises here. Studio offers controlled conditions (selected lighting, comfortable chair, wide desk), which allow focusing on technique and detail. There's no pressure here from changing weather, fleeting shadows or other inconveniences of plein air. And basically this paragraph could end here.

Plein air, on the other hand, is a place where everything happens quickly and unpredictably. Light changes from minute to minute, weather can surprise, and surroundings can be both an obstacle and a source of motivation.

At first, plein air frustrated me a lot. I tried to paint exactly the same way as in the studio - with precision and attention to details. It quickly turned out that it doesn't work. Blowing wind, sun reflecting off the sheet, sudden rain, shifting shadows or passersby looking over your shoulder and telling their life stories... effectively disrupted this plan.

Over time, however, I started treating plein air differently - more as an opportunity for meetings, conversations and spending time together, and incidentally painting something completely "relaxed". Plein air forces faster decisions, greater flexibility and focusing on the essence of the scene, not on details. When I allowed myself to paint faster, looser, to make mistakes and imperfections, joy appeared - and with it paintings in a completely different style.

Javea - Spain

An important aspect of plein air is also treating it as a souvenir - from a trip or meeting. Such a painting doesn't have to be "finished" in the classical sense. Often what becomes more important is that it contains a record of a specific place, light and moment in time. This makes plein air works have unique emotional value.

Ultimately, both plein air and studio offer valuable, though different experiences. Plein air teaches observation, spontaneity and letting go of control, while studio allows developing technique, precision. One doesn't exclude the other and no one should impose on us what way, where and how we should paint!

photo: Mateusz Strzałka