Cynthia Hillis McBride

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Artist's Statement

I am primarily a Plein Air painter, though I do also paint in the studio. Given a choice I much prefer the light and experience of painting in one session outside. I began my artistic career by doing portrait commissions. I now do both landscape and figurative work. It is difficult for me to choose which I prefer.

I like the early morning hours or late afternoon and evening for outdoor painting. The sun is lower to the horizon then creating dramatic light and shadows. Working outside in nature, exposed to the changing weather and light enhances my senses and gives me the freedom to see and paint quickly. When I work outside I generally paint in a smaller format, which allows me to complete the painting in a couple of hours or less. When I cannot paint outside I try to carry the immediacy of the outdoor experience inside to my studio work. I like painting children, though have had poor luck in getting them to pose for any length of time. Consequently, most of my figurative work is done from short studies on site and completed from photographs. I sometimes combine figures from many different photos to complete a composition.

My enthusiasm and passion for the process is as important as the end result. I treat each effort as an enjoyable learning experience