Bri Custer
Lifted

8 x 8 inches (9.25 x 9.25 framed)
Oil on canvas
2020
Framed

Painting en plein air challenges the limitations of my perception. In the few seconds between looking from the landscape to the canvas, my brain has formed an imperfect short-term memory of that subject, as is true for any artist trying to translate the world without a photographic memory to support them. I use the lapses that occur between observing my subject and marking my canvas as invitations to invent color and space. I relish the opportunity to lay down a wildly bold pink or exaggerate a slant of light to the point of distortion.

In the past, my practice was defined by the freedom to explore and paint landscapes en plein air, but the demands of new motherhood have made painting on location less accessible. In this season of my practice, I’m finding that my plein air and studio work can (must) exist together. The problems I stumble upon in the field can be investigated during a nap time studio session, and when I get overly precious in the studio, the urgency I feel while painting en plein air can help. Motherhood has made painting feel even richer and quiet moments of mixing and mark making feel luxurious, an ever-present reminder of what a privilege it is to do this work.

View additional landscape paintings by Bri Custer