In the late 1800s when the Impressionists ventured out of their studios and into nature to capture the effects of sunlight and atmosphere, it was quite revolutionary.Today it’s a familiar concept.“Artists come to the Laguna Beach area from all over the world because of the light, the way the sea affects the atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the beach and surrounding hills,” says artist Ken Auster, who's own fresh style works classic plein air magic in the studio. “I work only in oils and my paintings are very ‘juicy,’ very loose and very of-themoment.” Auster has an exceptional eye for chromatic subtleties and his understanding of color and light are on display in this pair of dramatically out-sized Southern California landscapes, the first two of this new series. A lifetime can be spent filling in the details as the eye travels, catches and circles around through each of these landscapes.