publisher’s letter
I
CATCHING UP AND SHOWING UP
have visions of people timidly looking out their windows while painting indoors during COVID quarantines. Though I know many of you were able to get out, others needed to stay put and stay inside. There has been pent-up demand to get outside and paint, and I’m thrilled to see so many who have ventured out to events, paint-outs, shows, and openings to reconnect with followers, fans, friends, and fellow painters. And I suspect as things (hopefully) continue to open up, and as foreign travel becomes more available, we’ll all look for opportunities to get outside and paint even more. Clearly it’s time to catch up with friends we’ve not been able to hug or see in person, and to paint with our painting buddies. Because of COVID, one of my fears was the possibility that the plein air movement would lose some momentum because we were all stuck at home. Sadly, there were casualties, where some very hardworking people lost their galleries or saw their plein air shows close. Of course our hope is that some, if not all, can find a way to return. That’s where you and I come in. It’s never been more obvious that people make the world go round and that these shows, events, and businesses are totally reliant on our participation. When we disappear, they too have a chance of disappearing. When we appear, we make them strong. • Galleries need you to show up at shows. • Plein air events need you to show up to participate and possibly buy artworks. • Artists need you to support their in-person workshops. • Advertisers need you to respond to their ads.
In short, we all need to show up. I dare say it would be helpful if we all showed up even more than usual, so things can return to normal. And it’s our hope that you’ll support our virtual events — Pastel Live, Realism Live, PleinAir Live, and Watercolor Live, as well as our in-person 10
events like the upcoming Fall Color Week in the Adirondacks or the Paint! Russia art trip. From all the information I have, it’s looking like the Plein Air Convention & Expo in May in Santa Fe will be the biggest yet because we’re all eager to reconnect with friends, meet new people, and see top artists paint in person. We do have limited space, so you might consider booking now. Our plein air community has never been more wanted or needed than it is today. Do what you can to show up, to support, and to help others by spreading the word about events and shows. We got through this crisis together, and we’re still in this together — one family of plein air collectors and painters. I’ll see you out there!
B. ERIC RHOADS CHAIRMAN/PUBLISHER E-mail: bericrhoads@gmail.com Phone: 512.607.6423 Facebook: /ericrhoads Twitter: @ericrhoads
August-September 2021 / www.outdoorpainter.com
Eric Rhoads (on the right, standing ) paints with a group of old and new friends at the Publisher’s Invitational in the Adirondacks.
