The Sonoran Plein Air Painters paint "en plein air," which translates from French to "in the open air." There is a unique challenge to painting in this way. The light is constantly shifting, the weather can present difficulties, and all materials, including easels, must be carried to and from the location. Plein air painters embrace these challenges and find joy in the experience of creating art on-site. The Sonoran Plein Air Painters seek out natural settings that offer both physical and atmospheric beauty. At times, these scenes cannot be captured by photographs in a way that conveys the full impression of being there in person. The process of studying a landscape and blending the artist’s impression with careful observation is what leads to the creation of a landscape painting. The creation becomes not only a work of art but also a memento of a fleeting moment in life.