There’s an annual change to the summer landscape in America at the beginning of each July and plein air painters are here for it: red, white, and blue American flags start blooming on porches and balconies, popping up in store windows, townhall buildings, schools, libraries, and seemingly random roadside spots nationwide. As this roundup suggests, plein air painters area ready.
On her plein air painting “Welcome Home,” (above) artist Mary Smith had this to say: “For several weeks before July 4th a year or two ago, this flag was hung along a gravel driveway leading towards what looked like a long entrance to a home,” says Mary Smith. “I took a photo of it because it looked so hopeful. Later on, it was gone and it has never returned.”
Jill Stefani Wagner, “Flying the Flag, Too”
Jill Stefani Wagner, “Flagged”
“I love painting the many flags that fly in our community near Independence Day because they make exciting focal points,” says Jill Wagner. “But more importantly, they are visual reminders of how lucky we are to live in this great country… and that is definitely worth capturing on canvas!”
Jill makes use of pastels as well as oils in her work. She shares her technique for the former in two popular instructional videos that you can browse here.
Bonnie McGown’s mini setup and Fourth of July painting
“I really enjoy daily painting,” says Bonnie McGown. “I saw a little painting online done in an Altoid tin and I thought it would be perfect for me. I ordered tins and little 2 x 3-inch canvases and started painting these little glimpses of my world. What fun! I sold one right away, I was hooked. This one was painted on the 4th of July this year. I went down to the lake in the morning, found my spot, and started painting. I was just finishing up and it started to rain. Closed up my little tin and I was done.”
Tom Smith, “Glory Rests,” oil, 9 x 12 in., plein air
“Driving around looking for a subject in Plymouth, Wisconsin, I saw this view on a farm, screeched to a halt, and got permission to paint this amazing old boat,” says Tom Smith.
See more patriotic plein air paintings on this page.
