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Plein Air (open air) landscape painting has been an artistic practice since the Renaissance. But it rose to greatest prominence in the 19th century when working in natural light became particularly important to the Barbizon School, Hudson River School, and Impressionists. The opportunity to capture the spontaneous moment of a particular scene in the great outdoors has appealed to many of the great painters of history. And it is still popular to this day.

Local collectors Kevin Miller and Hal Stringer have a particular affinity for this type of painting and have amassed over the years a fine and varied collection of plein air painters from around the country. In so doing, their discerning eyes have gravitated towards views that represent one of the great joys of painting outdoors – the happenstance of turning a corner or bend in the river or road to find a perfectly poetic and uncontrived scene of beauty calling to be captured on canvas. Many a painter has stopped in their tracks, set-up their easel, pulled out their canvas, paint and brushes to quickly record such scenes before the light, atmosphere and composition changes, knowing that that particular moment will never be seen again in exactly that way. Some of the most famous paintings in the world have been created this way with no advance planning or preconceived idea. Plein air painting, therefore, is a celebration of the pure act of painting itself. No narrative or over-arching message required.

Artists included in this exhibition, whether historical or contemporary, Floridian or from out of state, have all made capturing these unexpected moments an important part of their art. A good number of the works on view here were created at “Paint Outs” (festivals where artists convene in scenic spots to paint and socialize) and, therefore, were not completely spontaneous. Nevertheless, whether it be sunsets over the ocean, woodlands at dusk, tree-covered walkways, long shadows on sidewalks or an unexpected abandoned home covered in vines – all pay testament in this exhibition to the plein air joy of the discovery made just around the bend.

Background of the Collection:
This collection began in 2005 when Hal founded the Crescent Beach Paint Out and both Hal and Kevin decided to buy some of the paintings. They continued to do so during the next five years of the event until Hal started the Winter Park Paint Out in 2009 and they began to purchase from that event. Part of this collection was also purchased at the Wekiva River and the Canaveral Seashore Paint Outs.

The label texts that accompany each of the paintings exhibited here were provided by the collectors and provide a rare, personal view of two collectors and their history of collecting as well as their love of paintings of this type.