The red-winged blackbird posed at the edge of the lake’s shore. A hatchling, mouth open, flapped its wings nearby in anticipation of receiving a crumb from the artist who sat at an easel capturing this moment in time.
Steven Maple, a member of the Plein Air Painters of the Four Corners, made the bird a centerpiece in his oil painting when the group met June 24 for a paint out at Farmington Lake.
“I really enjoy being able to capture a moment like a bird landing there,” Maple said. “He didn’t stay very long, but long enough for me to capture the silhouette.”
Maple, of Farmington, has been involved with the Plein Air Painters for two years, but the group has been in existence since 2001.
The group has 40 members representing New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Utah. There were 12 artists who arrived at the lake in the early morning hours and painted until the sky clouded over and the wind kicked up around noon.
Plein air is a French term that has been in use since the 19th century, and it describes a painting that is done outside on location instead of in a studio, according to the group’s website.
The artists pick a location in nature and spend several hours creating their work, then they meet for a quick visit and share the subject of their work created in nature. They also offer a friendly critique.
“It’s very peaceful,” Maple said of being at the lake. “I love just studying a subject. This allows me to take my mind off everything else and just relax.”
Portia Griefenberg, of Aztec, echoed that sentiment.
“Being out in the open, in the fresh air, you forget everything else,” Griefenberg said.
Gayle Lewis, of Farmington, said being in nature is lovely, but as a plein air painter you also have to pay attention to the elements.
“The light changing, highlighting the water, but also fighting the weather with the wind,” Lewis said, as she kept a close eye on the birds. “We were up in Durango at Hesperus, and a big goose plopped his dropping right on my hat. We put up with things like that – birds giving their hello.”
Stephen Unger, of Aztec, was at the very first paint out at Lion’s Wilderness Park.
“I like painting out in the open,” he said. “You’re out in the middle of nature. … I like being outside. You get the bright light.”
Unger, like many of the other artists, also works in a studio, but they enjoy the outdoors.
“I like getting out in the fresh air and painting next to my art friends,” said Julane Jensen, who hosted a March paint out in Chokecherry Canyon.
This year’s other paint outs have been at Haviland Lake in Durango, the Old Fort Lewis College on La Plata Highway, the Farmington Museum at Gateway Park, the Cove in North Dalton outside of Durango, Dallabetta Park in Durango, McElmo Canyon and La Plata Canyon.
Paint outs are hosted by members, who find locations and plan the day.
Rodney Hubble, of Farmington, hosted the Farmington Lake paint out.
“This is the first time I’ve been out painting in two years,” Hubble said to the group during the critique. “It was so nice how the water changed and had white in it for a while.”
Hubble invited his friend Lorin Jones, who said it was the second time he had plein air painted.
Jones said he enjoyed the “lake, the cottonwood trees, and a lot of the beautiful shadows on the ground.”
Nearly all the painters in the group are represented by galleries, and they do a show once a year. In 2026 it will be at the Durango Arts Center.