FOXBURG — Art lovers will be able to view the plein air pastels of Pittsburgh artist Diane Grguras until Sunday, Nov. 12, at the Red Brick Gallery in Foxburg. A meet-the-artist reception will be
held from 4 to 6 p.m. this Sunday at the gallery.
Plein air painting is a French expression meaning “in the open air” and refers to the act of painting outdoors.
Grguras, who has been painting outdoors for 14 years, credits it not only for increasing her observation skills but also for providing an awareness of the spiritual quality of the landscape.
“The idea that each person is unique and important is mirrored in nature. My paintings are an expression of how I see and feel about the natural world. I appreciate the beautiful diversity of the world, as well as its order and logic,” she said.
Grguras said she appreciates working outside because it “lets you see light and color in their true appearance and gives you the atmospheric feeling of a scene. It’s not always comfortable but so worth the sun, wind, rain, frozen hands and hat hair.” “You meet people from all over the world because you’re doing something that speaks a universal language,” she added.
Pastels are Grguras’ choice medium because of their intensity of color.
“Pastel is almost pure pigment and keeps the same brilliant appearance for hundreds of years. Most of my paintings are done outside because I like the freshness of painting fast … you have about
two hours before the light has completely changed,” she said.
For larger works she uses plein air pieces or her own photos as references. “Sometimes people ask me how I choose a subject. It’s not so much the subject itself that attracts me, as much as how the light falls on an object or place, as well as the color it reveals,” Grguras said. Gallery hours are from 1 to 5 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and from noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. The gallery is located at 17 Main Street in Foxburg.
For more information, people may visit www.alleghenyriverstone.org.
