Capturing an image is a lot easier with a camera than with a paintbrush. But that’s the entire premise of Plein Air painting.

“On the Road Again” is the winter exhibit for the Artisans at the Dahmen Barn. The artwork in the exhibit features scenes from backroads and byways around the Palouse, done in Plein Air, according to the event page.

Plein Air refers to a method of painting in which the artist sets up their easel in the outdoors and paints the scene in front of them. The phrase was borrowed from the French expression to mean “open (in full) air,” as defined on the event page.

“(The exhibit) includes paintings of the Salmon and Snake Rivers and up to St. Joe,” exhibit coordinator Julie Hartwig said. “The artists sit out in the open air and paint local scenes.”

The artwork for the exhibit comes from a group of six artists know as Group Six. These artists traveled to different parts of the Palouse and work with mediums such as watercolor, oil and pastel.

“They’ll sit around and they all paint different styles,” Hartwig said. “They all get along with each other and have fun doing it.”

In their mission to find places for Plein Air painting, Group Six ended up at numerous Palouse locations such as Clearwater River, Hells Canyon, Tamarack Road and Mann Lake.

Because Plein Air painting requires an artist to go outside and create in the moment, there’s an added level of difficulty in comparison to painting a scene captured by a camera. The season and lighting at the time of portrayal play a large role in how the painting turns out.

“If it’s a cloudy day, you get clouds,” Hartwig said. “If it’s raining, you get rainclouds.”

Hartwig said Plein Air is difficult to do because an artist doesn’t have a photograph to reference. They only have what’s right in front of them: every shadow, curve of the hill and cloud in the sky.

With all these variables, there are no second chances. Hartwig said that this creates a sense of intimidation for artists.

“It’s easier on time if it’s a smaller painting,” Hartwig said. “We have paintings here all the way from eight by 10 to 16 by 20.”

Each year, the City of Moscow hosts the Palouse Plein Air competition, where artists come in from around the Palouse to showcase art they have done in Plein Air, using scenery from the Palouse.

While using a rural area creates beautiful scenes, Hartwig said Plein Air can be done anywhere. Urban artists have painted parts of or entire buildings in Plein Air.

Hartwig said the paintings featured at the Dahmen Barn will depict locations many Palouse residents will recognize, and there will also be a painting of a setting from Scotland.

The “On the Road Again” exhibit will be at the Dahmen Barn until Feb. 26. The barn is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Admission is free and open to the public.