Fannin County, Texas -- With the first rays of an early-morning sun peaking through the trees, only the faint sound of crickets and birds in the background, and a cool breeze coming off of Lake Bonham, the Fannin County Plein Air Group was already breathing life into blank canvases.
This group has only been in existence for a short time, but Fannin County's small lakes, historic farms and gentle, rolling hillsides offer an abundance of settings that lend themselves to landscape portraiture in natural lighting, and the concept is catching on.
Plein air painting -- painting outdoors -- is a time-honored tradition that was employed by many of the masters. In the 1860s, you could have found Renoir and Monet carrying canvasses into the forest in France to capture images draped in ever-changing sunlight and shadows.
On August 1, 2026, it was Tammy Mize, Laurel Hamrick, Tracy Mize and Tatiana Suvorova Murray set up on the south shore of Lake Bonham as the sun came up. Another member of the group, John Willson, arrived later.
This easy-going group welcomes artists of all skill levels to enjoy a series of morning sessions they have planned in the local countryside. On Thursday, August 6, the Fannin County Plein Air Group have their sights set on water lilies at Coffeemill Lake. No doubt, Monet will be there, if only in spirit.
John Willson’s flower garden will be the setting on Thursday, August 13 and then the group will set up on the west side of Lake Crockett on Thursday, August 20.
All of those plein air sessions begin at 7:00 a.m., but, for artists who prefer working in the evening, the group will be at Honey Grove Methodist Church on Thursday, August 27 at 6:00 p.m.
Have a setting that is just waiting to be captured on canvas by artists? Fannin County Plein Air Group is always searching for windmills and old barns to paint.
For more information, contact the Creative Arts Center, call Tammy Mize at 903-505-9623 or go to the Fannin County Plein Air Group's Facebook page.
