During a live 45-minute videoconference with a curator from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, participating artists will have the opportunity to ask and learn about the history of plein air painting. Topics covered will include:

• The history of plein air painting, from Europe to America, and how it’s been taught;
• Artists’ working methods and aesthetic elements, such as light, color and form
• Exploration of what the artists are communicating, such as identity of a particular place

This program is held in conjunction with the Bluff Strokes Plein Air Paint Out, a weeklong outdoor painting competition held at various locations throughout Dubuque, October 9-15.

Through its affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution, the Dubuque Museum of Art continues to seek and find creative ways to bring the resources of our nation’s museum to our community. Have an idea for how to bring the Smithsonian into your neighborhood or classroom?  Contact David Schmitz, executive director, at 563-557-1851.