What is plenir-air painting?

Plein air painting is the practice of creating artwork outdoors, capturing the natural light and atmosphere of a scene. Artists set up their easels in open air to work directly from their surroundings, allowing for a spontaneous and immediate response to the environment. This technique emphasizes the effects of changing light and weather on the landscape, and it became particularly popular among Impressionist painters in the late 19th century. The term "plein air" is derived from the French phrase meaning "open air."