Field Notes From Oxford
Plein Air Easton Podcast
Step into the heart of America’s premier plein air festival. The Plein Air Easton podcast takes you behind the easel and into the vibrant world of painters, collectors, judges, and volunteers who bring this celebration of art to life on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. This episode, Avalon Media Manager Cecile Davis roams the streets of Oxford, capturing candid conversations with award‑winning artists as they chase light, weather sudden rainstorms, wrestle with when a painting is “done,” and share how their styles evolve over time. You’ll also hear from a passionate collector and longtime...
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2026 PAE Judge Mary Morton
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 the qualities that capture her attention, the common traits shared by exceptional plein air paintings, and the subtle decisions that distinguish finalists from first-place winners. Whether you're an...
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In Monet's Garden with Eric Santoli
Plein Air Easton Podcast
Go behind the easel with celebrated painter and educator 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 of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts to living and painting at Claude Monet's House and Gardens as a Munn Fellow Artist-in-Residence, Eric shares the origin story behind his passion...
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Strong Fundamentals with Lyudmila Tomova Clarke
Plein Air Easton Podcast
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 chapter that helped shape her artistic voice and discipline. But it’s her evolution beyond the studio that truly defines her legacy. Today, Lyudmila Tomova is celebrated as one of the world’s...
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From Graffiti to Plein Air with Antwan Ramar
Plein Air Easton Podcast
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 painting outdoors, and the way working directly from nature continues to shape his artistic voice. Along the way, Antwan talks about finding community in the plein air world, developing his style, and the...
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Art as an Advocacy Tool
Plein Air Easton Podcast
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 environmental advocacy, exploring how painting, storytelling, and visual documentation can inspire stewardship and spark meaningful conversations about conservation. It’s a thoughtful look at how...
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Values with Murray Taylor
Plein Air Easton Podcast
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 match your reference photo. Murray shares stories from the field, hard-earned wisdom, and the kind of insight that only comes from staring at a horizon until it blinks first. Expect laughs, honest...
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Never Give Up with Joshua Hoffman
Plein Air Easton Podcast
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 plein air painting. There is something special about the connection a painter develops with their surroundings when they are routinely observing and practicing plein air painting, Through utilizing...
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Painting is a Compulsion with Martin Geiger
Plein Air Easton Podcast
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, Virginia. He is head assistant at Bronzecraft Foundry as well as an instructor at the Beverly Street Studio School and a trustee on the board of the Staunton Augusta Art Center, He recieved two...
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The Preciousness of Time with Peter Trippi
Plein Air Easton Podcast
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 specialized in 19th-century European academic painting and sculpture. Before that, he held senior posts at the Brooklyn Museum and Baltimore Museum of Art. In 2002, Phaidon Press published Trippi’s...
info_outlineLIVE 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 glade or spills diamonds across the sea. I’m compelled by something deep in me to seize that energy and to express it as paint on canvas using my own calligraphy and the brevity of a few accurate brushstrokes. My reward is to have the viewer linger, to understand, to share as the canvas evokes and conveys a glimmer of that sublime natural beauty all around us."
Mark Shasha (b. 1961) is an award-winning American artist, author and educator.
His work has appeared in museums, galleries and publications for 40 years. His paintings are found in public and private collections around the world. And millions have read his children's books which he has written and illustrated.
After college at Rhode Island School of Design in 1983 Shasha was a frequent illustrator for the Boston Phoenix, The Globe and many other publications. His first children’s book, Night of the Moonjellies (Simon & Schuster, 1992) won a Marion Vannett Ridgway Honor Award and was welcomed by Smithsonian Magazine as “a classic.” It continues to appear on bestseller lists.
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To inquire about being a guest or sponsoring the Plein Air Easton Podcast, send us an email at info@pleinaireaston.com.
Music in this episode was generously provided by Blue Dot Sessions and Scott Gratton.