Grade 9 Visual Arts Class: Exploring “En Plein Air”

The Grade 9 visual arts students recently had the opportunity to explore the technique of en plein air painting – working outdoors to capture real-life scenes using watercolours. Their focus: the impressive architecture found around our school grounds.

"En plein air", French for "in the open air," refers to the practice of painting outside, directly observing the landscape or subject. This approach became popular in the 19th century, especially among artists from the Barbizon School and the Impressionist movement.

With the weather ranging from cool to warm, students were encouraged to photograph their chosen scenes in case outdoor conditions changed. They began the process by sketching their compositions in pencil, then studied various watercolour techniques. To enhance their work, students outlined their drawings in ink, emphasizing the architectural forms and learning about perspective along the way.

We invite you to enjoy this collection of thoughtful and expressive artwork created by our talented young artists.