Capturing the Harlem Valley 'en plein air'

WASSAIC — It’s early morning down at the state’s Multiple Use Area in southern Wassaic along Route 22. Down a car path so seldom used it’s hard to make out the dirt tire marks left by traversing vehicles, a simple hand-drawn sign sits near a table.

“Plein air� it reads, with an arrow pointing to a path in the thicket. The directions lead you to Ten Mile River, where Dan and Cathy Cara have set up French box easels along the bank.

Last Saturday marked the first “plein air� event of the season for the Eastern Provinces Photographic Society (EPPS). “En plein air� is a French phrase meaning “in the open air,� and it commonly refers to the act of painting outdoors.

The EPPS interprets the phrase liberally, including any artists, whether they paint, draw or photograph, looking for an intriguing scenic view and a relaxing day outdoors in the Harlem Valley.

The society was founded by Wassaic resident Cindy Snow, a photographer who since organizing plein air events has begun to dabble a bit in painting herself.

Snow and the Caras both mentioned the difficulty in selecting outdoor locations to paint, finding that many of the views that strike them immediately end up being private property. Snow said she has been invested in finding new public areas where the “plein air� artists can convene, ideally once a month, for the rest of the summer.

“People can stay as long as they want,� she said. “As long as the light cooperates, we’re here.�

As Dan Cara pointed out, there’s only about two hours on a sunny day to get down the framework for a painting.

“The light changes in about two hours,� he explained. “The shadows change. But a day like today [the weather was overcast and threatening to rain] we’ll get a little more time. I’ll sometimes just paint the structure and then go back home to fill in the remaining details.�

The Caras find the outside setting a more spontaneous endeavor than any studio work. Both have been oil painting for about five years but are lifelong artists.

“He always has a pen or pencil in his hand,� Cathy said, adding that she liked the “plein air� events as they often provided pleasant company.

“And sometimes the challenge is just to paint what’s in front of you,� Dan pointed out.

Downstream a fly fisherman waded into a shallow pool, casting out a few times before deciding to move on. Other than that, it was the sound of calm, slow-moving water beside the artists and the soft contact of paint brushes on canvas on a peaceful summer morning.

The Eastern Provinces Photographic Society can be found on Facebook or by contacting Snow by phone at 845-877-9013.