The Plein Air “Artists, Balchik, Love – A Meeting of European Seas“: Twenty Years of Presence on the Map of Contemporary Bulgarian Art

Over its 20-year existence, the plein air “Artists, Balchik, Love – A Meeting of European Seas” has accumulated a rich history. In all editions so far, 55 artists have taken part. This report analyzes the works created during the plein air, as well as the trends that have emerged as genres and stylistics. It is natural for so many different participants to see a great variety of paintings and creative results. Some of them even started whole cycles of works. The landscape genre dominates (natural, sea, and urban landscapes), but we also observe more decorative and abstract compositions. The authors are studied by the type of genre in which they have worked, comparing their individual creativity and outlining general trends. One of the main conclusions is that, in such a long-term plein air, most of the trends characteristic of Bulgarian painting over the past two decades can be observed.