En plein air, or plein air painting is the act of painting outdoors. The practice goes back for centuries but was made into an art form by the French Impressionists. I have been out often in winter at places like Bear Swamp State Forest, downtown Skaneateles to paint the frozen lake and wintry scenes and at several Central New York ski slopes.

I get out year-round to paint, but winter is my favorite season. I love the white of the snow, and blue of the sky, nature, the cold, the challenge of it. And I love how the snow absorbs sound. It’s just quieter. It’s spectacular.