1. Plein Air
a. Plein Air is a French word meaning the act of painting outdoors.
b. Can anyone name a famous plein air artist? JSSargent painted Claude Monet in a painting called, Claude Monet Painting by the Edge of a Wood. Sargent and Monet were not just painting by random outside, they were more accurately capturing the appearance of outdoor settings in various light and weather conditions. It’s like taking your camera outside and snap, snap, snapping away.

2. Why Art
a. The goal of art is to communicate your message to the world.
b. At the end of the day, this is a communication process from one set of eyes to another.
c. Nature communicates something to us – the presence of God.
d. He speaks loudly in all that he did. The rain supplies nourishment to the green plants and trees. The trees and plants produce oxygen for our entire planet. The birds and animals make music for our enjoyment and well being. Everything is part of a positive feedback loop of giving.

3. Memory verse:
a. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go: I will guide you with mine eye”
-Psalms 32:8
b. How will God instruct and teach you?
Jesus is the teacher sent from God. I point you to the words and life of Jesus. He is your true ideal. Ask him to take possession of your life.

4. God created all.
a. God created all things to communicate something to you!
Any guesses? Speak up. There are many right answers.
b. My guess is that God created nature and He created us humans to satisfy a basic want – a love for the beautiful! He is the author of beauty. I don’t believe he invents any bad concepts. Feast your senses on the good things of God! As we create art, we advertise the goodness of God. He fills us and surrounds us.

5. Art Tools
a. Our art piece is mostly about color in the bricks and the rose bush, a little about pattern in the brick column and a little about texture in the bricks.
b. On the left side of our paper, we will draw a strong, arching brick column in soft pastels while sitting outside.
How does that strong, arching brick column make you feel? safe, stable, surrounded, private, intimate, hidden, counted

c. On the right side of our paper, we will draw a red rose bush, focusing in on 3 red roses, a couple rose buds and 3 green leafs in soft pastels while sitting outside.
How does the color red make you feel?
loved, excited, warm, fuzzy
How does the color green make you feel?
mad, sad, happy or glad?
d. There are thorns on the stems and prickles on the leaves. How do the thorns and prickles make you feel?

Stacy Sweeney