A Guerrilla Painter's-Eye View of Plein Air Easton - by Carl Judson

by Carl Judson August 13, 2012

Plein air artists invited to participate at Easton are among the most proficient at producing paintings of agreeably picturesque subjects in the familiar “plein air style.” The paintings exhibited at Plein Air-Easton were so enthusiastically received that some $250,000 worth were reported to have been sold at the opening gala. My eye was caught by some refreshing departures from the familiar:

• Charlie Hunter's monotone oil paintings of buildings have qualities that are reminiscent of daguerreotype, photo tinting and intaglio etching effects. He was awarded the prize for Best New Artist to Plein Air-Easton. Charlie is from Bellows Falls, Vermont. “Easton Depot,” 8x10 oil on birch panel (above) was my favorite. • Eddie Corkery of Villa Park, Illinois, used plain white frames (below) to great effect,

instead of the typical more elaborate gilt frames. This harkens back to the Impressionists' use of white frames as a symbol of their revolt against the prevailing salon tradition of the time. Shown here in an elegant white frame is Eddie’s “Derelict Skip Jacks, Tilgham Island,” 18x24 oil on canvas. • Ron Donoughe's painting of a decidedly non-sentimental bulk tank installation, “Fuel Storage,” 9x12 oil on birch panel (below) was awarded an honorable mention. Ron is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

• David Csont, also from Pittsburgh, is an architectural illustrator (featured in one of this blog’s recent posts). Not surprisingly, I found his crisp renderings of buildings outstanding. Here he is at the quick draw competition using his beautiful homemade easel/box.