Plein Air Easton Podcast

What separates a good painting from a winning one? In this fascinating conversation, renowned curator and Plein Air Easton judge Mary Morton pulls back the curtain on the jurying process, offering a rare look at how she evaluates hundreds of works and ultimately selects award-winning paintings. Drawing on her years of experience at some of the nation's leading art institutions, Morton discusses th...

Go behind the easel with celebrated painter and educator Eric Santoli on the latest episode of the Plein Air Easton Podcast. Hosts Tim and Marie sit down with Eric for a lively conversation about his life on the road, the inspiration behind his Eric En Plein Air PBS series, and the artistic journey that shaped him into one of today's most exciting plein air voices. From studying at the University...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Lyudmila Tomova to trace her extraordinary journey across continents, cultures, and careers. From her early years growing up in Sofia , Lyudmila Tomova shares what it was like to leave everything behind and begin again as a political refugee in New York City . Her story takes a remarkable turn when she's recruited by The Walt Disney Company —a pivotal cha...

In this episode of the Plein Air Easton Podcast , we sit down with acclaimed painter Antwan Ramar for a conversation about the roots of his artistic journey. Antwan shares stories from his early life, reflecting on the moments and influences that first sparked his creativity and led him toward a life in art. We also dive into how he discovered plein air painting , the challenges and rewards of pai...

In this episode of the Plein Air Easton Podcast , we're joined by Carol Bean of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy for a conversation about land, legacy, and the power of creative expression. Carol shares how ESLC works to protect the Eastern Shore's farms, forests, and waterways—and why preserving these landscapes matters now more than ever. We also dig into the unique role artists can play in en...

This week on The Plein Air Podcast , we sit down with artist Murray Taylor , a man who has spent an impressive amount of time chasing light, landscapes, and the elusive "just one more brushstroke." We talk about painting outdoors (yes, including wind sabotage), the strange joy of hauling art supplies into nature like a very optimistic pack mule, and what actually happens when reality refuses to ma...

Marie and Tim talk with first time Plein Air Easton juried artist Joshua Hoffman who won 3rd place in this year's festival with his painting "Youth".  Joshua talks about the importance of mentorship, pursuing his passion, and the story behind his award winning painting. "I have been studying art for over 20 years. I began oil painting in college where I quickly fell in love with landscape and plei...

In the launch of our 5th season, Jess and Marie talk with the 2025 Grand Prize Winner Martin Geiger.  Martin, an introspective and serious painter, reflects on his family of artists, how he approaches competition, and how painting for him is almost an addiction. Martin Geiger studied in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for four years at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and now lives in Staunton, Vi...

With Plein Air Easton right around the corner, Jess and Marie talk with the 2025 festival judge Peter Trippi.  They discuss his early introduction to art history, his position as Editor-in-Chief at Fine Art Connoisseur magazine, and his approach to curation and judging. Peter Trippi has edited Fine Art Connoisseur since 2006. Previously, he directed New York's Dahesh Museum of Art, which specializ...

Following the inaugural Alumni Invitational through a partnership with the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, Marie and Jess are joined by Communications Manager Caitlin Fisher, the brainchild behind the exhibition, to discuss the motivation behind the project and to debrief on how it went. Founded in 1990, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy is a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving land on Ma...

LIVE from Plein Air Easton 2024, Tim and Jess talk with alumni artist Debra Huse. Debra brings her trademark joy to the conversation as she discusses the many projects she is involved with. Debra Huse is a contemporary American Impressionist. She uses rich color and bold 
fluid strokes to capture the light and drama in 
her plein air and studio oil paintings. 
Debra enjoys painting on location and...

LIVE from Plein Air Easton 2024, Tim and Jess talk with alumni artist Mark Shasha. Mark is an interdisplenary artist that, beyond painting, also plays music and acts.  He discusses his relationship with terror and how it fuels all of his artistic pursuits. "Painting is a calling for me. It is a longing for those moments when the poetry happens when a sun beam caresses a snowbank, peeks into a glad...

LIVE from Plein Air Easton 2024, Tim and Marie talk with alumni artist Russell Jewell. Russell discusses how his teaching career and Plein Air Easton influenced his art. Russell Jewell is an internationally recognized plein air painter with signature memberships in the American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society and The Transparent Watercolor Society of America. His work recently trav...

LIVE from Plein Air Easton 2024, Tim and Jess talk with alumni artist Lisa Egeli. Lisa deep dives on her approach and philosophy to both her plein air work and her portraiture. Lisa Egeli paints the people and places we care about most.  Her ability to bring out the character of her portrait subjects has led to repeated commissions by many clients. Lisa has completed multiple commissions each for...

LIVE from Plein Air Easton 2024, Tim and Marie talk with alumni artist Mick McAndrews. Mick discusses watercolor painting and his membership in the Whiskey Painters of America. "I am a passionate painter who believes that time spent painting is precious. My goal is to draw and paint every day and I believe that the fastest way to artistic growth is through the activity of painting. I  enjoy painti...

Philip Carlton talks purpose, inspiration, and marketing woes with Tim and Marie.  We recorded this compelling interview several months ago, but we weren't able to release it when we shifted our staff energy to redesigning our foundation website. Our apologies for the delayed release, but we hope you enjoy. Philip Alexander Carlton is a self taught plein air painter who takes delight in the endles...

Bernie Dellario come into the studio to speak with Tim and Marie.  He talks about his painting trip to Italy that caused him to miss an early Plein Air Easton event, his approach to teaching, and gives Tim and Marie a little demo on how to mix paint. "From the beautiful to the discarded, I am inspired by many things as an artist.  I rarely know what will be the subject of my painting efforts, but...

In an incredibly brave and vulnerable interview, artist Tim Beall discusses the inner battles he endures as he pursues his art.  Growing up in an environment that he describes as being synonymous with "toxic masculinity", Beall speaks to the struggle to acknowledge his drive to be creative that brought him from athlete to artist. Tim Bell began serious painting study with the well-known portrait p...

Thoughtful and friendly, Christine Lashley shares with Tim and Marie her journey as an artist and her approach to her art that is very introspective and optimistic.  While the conversation never closes the loop on being chased by a bear, we do discover the surprising poignancy of her first painting of a rooster. Christine is an American artist known for her colorful and dramatic oils. Christine ha...

May Klisch made her Plein Air Easton debut this year and won the judge's choice award for her work "The Font of American Farmers".  Tim and Jess talk with May about how she failed art in high school, her gratitude for those that helped her rediscover the artist in her, and craft beer. Someone once remarked of my work: "I see why there is as much breadth as there is depth; as much whimsy as weight;...

Despite being a relative new-comer to plein air painting, Mick McAndrews won 3rd place at the 2022 Plein Air Easton festival with his piece "Good Morning Oxford".  After having technical difficulties during our first interview with Mick, Tim and Jess sat down with him again and this time discuss identifying as a "capital A, Artist", why Mick loves watercolor, and golf as a metaphor for painting. "...

First time Plein Air Easton juried artist Marilyn Rose sold very well in 2022 and joins Tim and Marie to discuss her experience.  Through that conversation, they debate what qualifies as "art", how she returned to art after a career in graphic design, and the careers of the OTHER Marilyn Rose's in the country. Marilyn Rose, a NJ resident, is a signature member of the Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art...

It's been a few months since this year's festival concluded and the team has had a chance to breathe and reflect on what all went down.  Tim, Marie, and Jess chat about all of the festivities and how the changes in the economy can impact the arts.  Whether or not you were able to attend the festival in person, this conversation provides an insider look at how the competition operates and how adjus...

LIVE from Plein Air Easton 2022, Tim and Jess talk with alumni artist Robert J Simone. Robert discusses professional art organizations, his love for boats, and how he found himself returning to his love of art. Simone derives inspiration from coastal scenery and marine subjects.  He loves color and the natural harmonies that surround us.  He's also fascinated by the many ways humans give shape, fo...

LIVE from Plein Air Easton 2022, Tim and Jess talk with alumni artist Georganna Lenssen. This fascinating dive into Georganna's career covers her work painting African dogs, cardboard cakes, and her pen pals in prison (something her grandmother inspired her to do).   "My work is the culmination of response, absorption and interpretation of place or content. A thread of commonality exists—from exqu...