Venvi Art Gallery is currently displaying Subtropical: Living in a Sinking State by Sam McCoy until August 18th. As an artist, McCoy works "en plein air", which can be seen in many of this exhibition's works that are on display. Many of McCoy's featured works in this exhibition are of locations and subject matter specific to Florida, including flora and fauna found in the state as well.
"En plein air" is a French term meaning "in the open air"("What is Plein Air?"). It also refers to the technique of painting outdoors. Instead of painting in a studio, many plein air artists like McCoy would opt to paint completely outdoors at specific locations.
This technique was first pioneered in the early 19th century in Britain but became more fundamental to the Impressionism movement around the mid-19th century. Many artists mixed pigments and oil to create their own paints prior to the development of tubed paints. As tubed paints became more accessible and introduced towards the late 19th century, Plein air became more popular as a result (Tate).
Plein air has recently rose back in popularity within the past twenty years in the United States, with many artists meeting up in groups to paint landscapes at single locations. By incorporating natural light, color, and movement into their pieces, plein air artists successfully capture the vibrant essence of the landscapes they paint ("What is Plein Air?").
Subtropical: Living in a Sinking State will be on display until August 18th at Venvi Art Gallery. To learn more about Subtropical: Living in a Sinking State and Sam McCoy herself, visit our website at: www.venviartgallery.com.
Sources:
Tate. (n.d.). Plein Air. https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/p/plein-air
What is plein air? - Wayne Plein Air. Wayne Art Center. (n.d.). https://waynepleinair.org/about/what-is-plein-air/#:~:text=En%20plein%20air%20is%20a,and%20movement%20into%20their%20works.
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