When an artist friend of mine first convinced me to try the outdoor painting thing, I wasn't too sure about it. The french call it "en plein air" and once I tried it, I discovered I loved it. That was about the year 2000 and I am still dragging my easel out to various locations and slap some paint around on a canvas or wooden panel.

Perhaps it is a selfish thing, this love for plein air. It is nice to just pack up my easel and go out into the great outdoors and paint what ever comes across my path. There is no art director or client standing over my shoulder to say "I like it, but, could you change this and this and this." (no offense to art directors and clients:-)

Most of the work I do to pay the bills keeps me chained to a computer screen. (Computers are the kind of thing you can love and hate many times during a single day.) Painting in the open air is a great stress reliever. Its kind of theraputic. It also provides a great opportunity to learn more about the painting process, color, light, etc.

And then there is the worship... I am finding the experience of going out in God's awesome creation and painting His handy work, in the natural light, to be a great time of communing with the Creator, a time of praise, yes and even worship. A place away from all distractions. (provided there is no cell signal)

Psalm 9:1 says: I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders.

And Psalm 19:1 and 2 says this: "The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge."

God has created an awesome universe and when I go out and paint, no matter how the painting turns out, I can't help but praise Him for all His creative works, and, for His redemptive work when Christ died for my sins. He is a God who is worthy of our praise in all we do.


To contact Steve Miller - email: steve@journeyinoils.com