I’ve been working on merging my studio work with painting en Plein air. I’m excited about what’s been happening. Though untraditional, it has been incredibly inspiring and has elevated my studio practice to a new level.

In the field, en Plein air, I gather colours, sensations, shapes, light, essence, sounds, forms, contrasts, values, vibrations, wind and tidal movements, the song of birds, and the colour of water.

I take notes, make sketches, paint waves and willows, log experiences, infuse the paper or panel with dirt and seawater, breathe in the energy, make rubbings, and collect samples.

In the studio, I exhale. I put everything together to capture a moment—a sound, a feeling, the essence of a place, and the place within—a moment of being.

-Joie Villeneuve 2024