Paint Like Whom?

Emulation Out of Doors

As I gear up for a season of painting in Italy, I thought it might be worthwhile to consider the role of models for the plein air artist. While the underlying assumption in working out of doors is that one is reacting directly to the scene in front of him or herself, that reaction is not unmediated, but depends on the culture of artists one admires and attempts (consciously or not) to emulate. All artists either imitate or emulate, whether knowingly or unknowingly. So, here are some of my models:

Valenciennes

Granet

Corot