En Plein Air - Lisa Macaione

This week marks the second annual Plein Air event put on by the St Charles Arts Council. Last year I hosted a creative writing workshop in conjunction with the Quick Paint event, and this year it has evolved into our Outdoor Creative Writing Contest. Here is the poem I wrote in 2024, inspired by the visual artists in the midst of their process throughout our picturesque town. Come out and see it for yourself!

EN PLEIN AIR

In the park by the river, an artist stands
at easel, wide-brimmed straw hat circled
with black ribbon, chambray frock to wrists
and knees, over rolled-up denim jeans.
Her whole arm reaches, extended by paint
brush, touches lime green tint onto canvas
like a mother wiping a crumb from a child’s
cheek. She works in shade, sighting a botanical
tableau at the center of the turf, glances down
to palette, dips, raises arm to paint. Repeat.
The scene emerges like a flower from its tightly
furled bud. Further away, from behind I watch,
phone’s camera ready to snap, capture the act
of creation. This summer image of nature exists
for a city season, but lasts on my device’s memory,
her landscape,
this page,
and in our minds.

~Lisa L. Macaione

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