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Introduction Ever since artists returned to Indiana at the turn of the last century, after studying abroad,to paint their familiar landscapes,their style and sensibilities have remained popular with Indiana artists and art enthusiasts. The subject choices of today’s artists are frequently the same scenes that the early artists chose to depict. Three artists of the notable Hoosier Group who developed a passion for painting on location, or plein air painting—T. C. Steele, J. Ottis Adams, and William Forsyth—traveled the state looking for inspiring locations, often painting together. Adams and Steele’s studio home in Brookville, Ind., called The Hermitage, became a gathering place for many artists from 1898 to 1906, including established artists from Cincinnati as well as art students from Indianapolis . Plein air painting, as recreation and as skill-enhancing practice, has flourished in the past twenty years,and organized “paint-outs”are scheduled all over the state and the nation during fair-weather months.The gathering of artists, to share the experiences of painting outdoors, to discuss art, and to critique one another’s work, is easily rationalized. As seasoned Indiana artist Jeanne McLeish explains,“Making art is a lonely endeavor, and plein air camaraderie is a welcome change.”1 One difficulty with painting in a group,however,is finding a place to paint that is agreeable to all. Finding an inspiring painting subject is dependent on individual preference.One artist may be enamored of an ornateVictorian structure , while another may be excited by the simple view of receding sycamores along a pasture creek. Plein air painters are constantly looking for that special place, sometimes driving around for hours, wasting precious morning light. Artist Chris Newlund jokes that “the best spots to paint are always in your rearview mirror.”2 Some painters try to abide by the fifteen-minute rule, where they must agree on a painting location after exploring for fewer than fifteen minutes. Perhaps the mandate to paint historical places for this third Painting Indiana book helped artists to focus on specific subjects.The liaison between the two sponsoring organizations for this project,the Indiana Plein Air Painters Association and Indiana Landmarks, proved to be both inspirational and rewarding for the artists.Several participants became immersed in researching Painting Indiana III 2 their subjects so they could write appropriate comments about their paintings, and they consequently gained new appreciation for Indiana and its history. The resulting captions, which include historical details and insights into the artists’ reasons for their subject choices, greatly enhance the hundred images of paintings inspired by time-honored places. Additional reproductions of fifteen previously unpublished works by Indiana’s early artists illustrate the text detailing the state’s art history and complement the paintings of today’s plein air artists. ...

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