Yosemite Falls is just one part of the Sierras that Stephen Berry has captured for his new Plein Air Gallery exhibit “Yosemite,” on display through June 5. (Painting by Stephen Berry)

Those who visit an area as beautiful as the Yosemite Valley often have a tendency to preserve views of the region’s natural splendor by taking photos. Plein Air Gallery artist Stephen Berry does the same thing, only he does not use a camera to capture images of Yosemite but rather a brush and canvas. Berry’s Yosemite images are currently on display at Plein Air Gallery, where he is this month’s featured artist.

Berry grew up in the Sierra Foothills and still visits Yosemite a couple times a year. When he does, he often brings his painting materials. Berry said there are a lot of elements that make Yosemite a vibrant region to paint.

“Because of the falls, there’s a lot of moisture in the air and it makes the mountains blue and distant,” he said. “There’s a feeling of grandeur and space, even though the valley’s actually pretty narrow.”

Berry said the scenery provides a lot of hues and forms, and he is especially fond of the vertical lines created by the mountains and pine trees.

“The pines can lead up into the forms of the mountains,” he said. “The mountains lead you down into the forms of the pines, and you have all of the meadows. It’s a nice contrast of shapes.”

Berry’s favorite seasons to paint are in the winter because of how “quiet and empty” the valley is, and spring which the artist describes as “lush and green but still not as crazy as summertime.”

Berry has painted several pictures of Yosemite throughout the various seasons and has exhibited them at many galleries over the years. Now he has brought the show to Benicia, where he says viewers can learn a little more about the artist behind the easel.

“I have a lot of love for Yosemite as a steward for the land,” he said. “It’s nice to connect that love of the land with my art.”

Part of what Berry loves about being a plein air painter is being able to paint in an area that he loves to visit.

“You get to go and invest a lot of time, thought and emotion into painting in a place that you love,” he said.

Berry hopes to share that love with people who view his paintings.

“It’s nice to know that if you have a love of something, other people find it important and sacred too,” he said. “Even if they don’t buy any work, they’ll be sharing that experience of knowing that other people find it as important, beautiful and permanent.”

“Yosemite” is on display at Plein Air Gallery through June 5. A reception will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 5 during Open Studios. Concurrently, other artists will be exhibiting their work in the gallery and doing live demonstrations.

“It should be quite the brouhaha,” Berry said.

Plein Air gallery is located at 307 First St. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. For more information, visit beniciapleinair.com.

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