Virginia Beach Art En Plein Air
Summers in Virginia Beach provides a range of nature-related activities that inspire outdoor artists. Many of these activities offer artists inspiration and a foundation upon which to create works of art en plein air.
En plein air is a French expression which means “in the open air”, and is typically used to describe the act of painting outdoors.
Exploring beaches, tide pools and shorelines is an excellent way to find materials for art projects such as cockles, moon snails, whelks, conchs, scallops, angel wings and other attractive treasures. Field trips to explore tidal areas are a wonderful activity for nature enthusiasts of all ages to learn about the creatures that live there.
The many beaches provide excellent settings to paint sunrises, sunsets, seascapes, wave actions, marine mammals and people. Bird watchers also find subjects to paint along local shorelines. Most areas are home to birds such as gulls, terns, oyster catchers, herons, egrets, pelicans, ibises, plovers, sandpipers and other shorebirds.
Artists also find kites of every description along the coast. To fly a kite successfully, enthusiasts need wind and open areas which are plentiful in Virginia Beach. Kites are flown almost year round, giving artists a variety of options for capturing them on canvas.
The area near Virginia Beach has an excellent selection of hiking trails where artists can practice their craft. State parks and public beaches usually provide trails with a range of landscapes and wildlife.
Tags: art, artists, beaches, en plein air, nature, painting, paintings, wildlife
