En-Plein-Air Drawing

Aligning with the 250^th anniversary of Suffolk painter John Constable, we will take advantage of this coastal location to observe and record through drawing outside within this natural site, to capture natural light, colour, and atmosphere.

The French term ‘en plein air’ literally means “in the open air” and refers to the act of painting landscapes or scenes outdoors rather than in a studio. This approach emphasizes fidelity to sensory reality, spontaneity, and the artist’s direct engagement with nature.

As was common for 18^th and 19^th c painters such as John Constable and JMW Turner, this is an opportunity to observe and record the natural world from amidst it. Guided by University of Suffolk Senior Lecturers and Artists Jane Watt and Susan Barnet, you will view some of the work of those previous artists as inspiration to unleash your own creativity and expression of the landscape. Drawing lies at the heart of much of art practice which we fully embrace at University of Suffolk BA(Hons) Fine Art. This en-plein-air activity is a small taste of the creative explorations we undertake on the Fine Art Course at our beautiful Ipswich campus.