Banner image is "Shrimp Boat, St. Simon's Island, Georgia", pastel, Dianne Lorden
Welcome to South Mountain Sketchbook
home of fine art by South Central Pennsylvania
artist Dianne Lorden
Click for captions
Ask about pet portraits by commission
Contact the artist for information about immortalizing your beloved companions; various mediums available. Send an email to daglorden@gmail.com.
At left, Our Friend Bella, pastel, 2011.
In the field...
This image, dated June 10th, is from the recently completed 2011 Gettysburg Fringe Festival Plein Air Paint Out. Dianne Lorden is working along Seminary Ridge, in the vicinity of General Lee's Headquarters. To view artwork made during this year's festival, visit the Artwork page.
"Light on the River," pastel, Dianne Lorden 2011
En Plein Air
"Spangler Farm, Gettysburg National Military Park"
This 9" x 12" pastel done on Colorfix sanded paper shows the rear-lot view of one of the historic farmsteads on the Gettysburg battlefield. It sits along a horse trail.
Why “en plein air?”
En plein air, which is French for painting “in the open air,” was made popular in 19th Century Europe by French, English, Flemish and other artists who were captivated by a new, innovative approach to realism — one that explored the interactions of light on form and the use of color in its expression. They took to the outdoors, where they focused on locations that were notable for their beauty, color and, especially, light.
As a plein air painter, a member of the Daily Painters of Pennsylvania, and the Gettysburg Festival Fringe Fest plein air painter I share the following goals:
· To continue the historic pursuit of painting in the open, specifically in order to explore the concepts of light, form, color and the way our eyes translate what we see into the artists’ reality
· In so doing, to honor the work and spirit of the many artists who stood firm against the artistic establishment on the path to leaving us this legacy
· To educate the public about the historic interest and on-going value of painting en plein air (such as interpreting current social trends through our work, keeping alive the spirit of artistic and natural exploration, continuing to develop new theories that may extend the frontiers of visual science and spiritual expression)
· To inspire and instruct one another
· To share this field with other artists
· To enjoy the beauty of the natural world, while setting impeccable examples of good stewardship of our precious planet.
En plein air, which is French for painting “in the open air,” was made popular in 19th Century Europe by French, English, Flemish and other artists who were captivated by a new, innovative approach to realism — one that explored the interactions of light on form and the use of color in its expression. They took to the outdoors, where they focused on locations that were notable for their beauty, color and, especially, light.
As a plein air painter, a member of the Daily Painters of Pennsylvania, and the Gettysburg Festival Fringe Fest plein air painter I share the following goals:
· To continue the historic pursuit of painting in the open, specifically in order to explore the concepts of light, form, color and the way our eyes translate what we see into the artists’ reality
· In so doing, to honor the work and spirit of the many artists who stood firm against the artistic establishment on the path to leaving us this legacy
· To educate the public about the historic interest and on-going value of painting en plein air (such as interpreting current social trends through our work, keeping alive the spirit of artistic and natural exploration, continuing to develop new theories that may extend the frontiers of visual science and spiritual expression)
· To inspire and instruct one another
· To share this field with other artists
· To enjoy the beauty of the natural world, while setting impeccable examples of good stewardship of our precious planet.
