Chris Kolupski began painting outdoors as a teenager in the forests of Upstate New York and Canada. He credits his high school art teacher David DeClerk for making a significant impact on his early artistic evolution. DeClerk took his class on outdoor painting field trips and introduced his students to representational American painters and illustrators such as Winslow Homer, Norman Rockwell, and the Wyeth family. 

Like many artists, Chris pursued career choices after high school that helped him earn a living as an illustrator, portrait artist, and taking on commission work. However, after a particularly exhausting large-scale commission, Chris had had enough. He felt depleted and looked forward to unwinding by painting natural landscapes outdoors during a vacation in Utah and Colorado with his wife Michele and their two children. That trip would prove to be a pivotal turning point for Chris. Inspired by the striking landscape of of American West, he resolved to refocus on his first painting love: landscapes.    In this episode, Chris talks about that transformative moment and why it was so important to him in his development as an artist. He talks about why landscape painting appeals to him and he shares a few of his outdoor adventures. He talks, too, about the effect his portraiture work has had on his landscape paintings, the materials and techniques he likes to use, and his thoughts on teaching. This conversation with Chris Kolupski will certainly inspire you to paint outdoors, seek its solitude, and disappear into time.   Links:   Chris Kolupski Website: https://www.chriskolupski.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriskolupski/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chriskolupskifineart/   Oak Hill Woodworking - Plein Air Kits https://www.oakhillwoodworking.com   Books The Painted Word (author Tom Wolfe) https://amzn.to/2PIVTfx (paid link)   About the Artful Painter:   Website: https://carlolson.tv/artful-painter YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CarlOlsonArt   This page may contain affiliate links from which I earn a small commission. When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.