If you’ve wondered what some of the words mean, as I use them, here’s a list.  (I’ll update it regularly as I add more art and use more art-specific terms.)

Art - I consider anything art if it communicates with a sense of style and finesse, and–generally–has emotional content.  So, for me, “art” includes a perfectly-tuned car engine, a wonderful meal, or a karate demonstration, as well as what I place in a frame on my walls, and so on.

Plein Air - Literally, this is French for “open air.”  (A related expression, en plein air, means “in the open air.”)  Most artists agree that en plein air means painting outdoors, on location.  So, painting in my studio from memory, or from photos, is not en plein air.

Water-soluble oil paints - A fully archival, environmentally-friendly alternative to the oil paints that require toxic solvents for clean up.

Water-soluble oil paints are almost identical to modern oil paints, but the oil is usually one that was used by the old masters, such as poppy seed oil.  These oils mix with water better than modern oil paints, so artists can clean their brushes with regular soap and water.