Thank you SO MUCH to the amazing team at Plein Air Easton for having me on their podcast!  Below is a YouTube version of the podcast or you can listen to the episode here: https://pleinaireaston.com/podcast/monets-garden

"Go behind the easel with celebrated painter and educator Eric Santoli 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 for outdoor painting, teaching, and adventure. It’s an inspiring listen full of travel tales, career insight, and the spontaneous energy that makes plein air painting so magical."

  I had a fascinating visit today to Macculloch Hall in Morristown, NJ.   We'll be filming an episode there this summer for Season 2 so I wanted to visit beforehand.  Executive Director, Kathleen Bartlett gave me a wonderful tour inside and outside this beautiful Georgian mansion.  
  Macculloch Hall has tons of history which was almost lost as the home fell into disrepair before being saved in the 20th century.  There is a beautiful historic garden which is free and open to the public daily.  The garden includes some of the first wisteria in the US given by Commodore Perry in 1857 and also the second oldest sassafras tree in NJ.  Jersey tomato fans should note that the first recorded tomato was grown here!
  The museum has an impressive collection of artwork including work by Charles Wilson Peale (the founder of my alma mater - the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts).  They also house a collection of work by political cartoonist, Thomas Nast (1840-1902) who lived across the street from Macculloch Hall.  Amongst his political cartoons, Nast is responsible for the donkey and elephant political party mascot depictions.  And impressively, Nast created the modern depiction of Santa Clause (which may have been modeled after his own jovial likeness); Nast conjured up the North Pole, the Naughty or Nice list and other iconic Santa-related ideas.
  I had also planned to do some painting in their garden today, but it was raining so I'll have to wait until our return.  If you're in this area of NJ, then I definitely encourage you to visit Macculloch Hall to take a tour and experience this history for yourself!

  I want to say "Congratulations!" to my friend, J Schwanke for 100 episodes of his amazing public TV program!  J Schwanke's Life in Bloom has been one of my favorite shows for years and I am so happy for J and his family.
  J's show is inspiring, education, engaging, fun and peaceful.  If you enjoy flowers and gardening then it's a program that you must watch.
  You can watch the "One Hundred Blooms" episode (Season 8, Ep.805) here: https://www.pbs.org/video/one-hundred-blooms-mSipHT/  ..and keep an eye out for a familiar face around the 16:28 mark!

  I am so excited as we get ready for the premiere of Eric En Plein Air!  It's been an amazing journey to get to this point and I'm so proud of all the work that our team put into this program.  We're working now on developing Season 2 which has many more locations to explore by brush!
  I'm heading to the South of France in 9 days to teach a workshop, but I'll share more updates before I leave!

  Creating art while traveling is one of the best ways to enjoy a trip and explore an area.  And oil paints are one of the most versatile materials for painting on location.  With safety in mind, it's important to prepare for a trip in advance.
  Remember that solvents (OMS, Turpentine, or any paint thinner) are NOT allowed on aircrafts.  For other safety information please download this Material Safety Data Sheet (MSD) which was prepared by the team at Vasari Classic Artists' Oil Colors.  I work with Vasari's team and they generously put this information together.  

  I can't believe it, but it's been exactly one year since we filmed our pilot episode on April 18th, 2025.  As an artist and a teacher, creating a TV program was a totally new experience for me.  It was very exciting, but I didn't know exactly what to do!  But I had a vision and an amazing production manager named Tim Hillmann at Studio 94 Video who brought my vision to life.  (Tim films and edits the program and we couldn't do it without him!)
  When we started this project, it was pretty intimidating to figure out the process, but I also had amazing support from my friend, J Schwanke.  J is the host of one of my favorite shows, J Schwanke's Life in Bloom.  I was a guest on an episode titled, "Painting and Flowers" and it was an amazing experience.  J and his family encouraged me to create Eric En Plein Air and I'm so happy that they've become my friends.
  With our program, I want to encourage others to create art, visit natural areas, support wildlife and find peace in your surroundings.  Whether you're painting, drawing, taking photos, or simply admiring the beauty of nature, it is a therapeutic and enjoyable way to engage with the world.    
  As a public TV program, we really rely on the donations and encouragement from our supporters.  And reading the emails, comments and speaking with supporters in person has been incredible.  Thank you for being a big part of our journey - "Let's Go Paint!"

  Thank you to everyone who came to our SOLD-OUT plein air workshop at Reeves-Reed Arboretum in Summit, NJ.  We had beautiful weather for our event and it's amazing to see their daffodils.
  Students asked about future workshops - we're planning more workshops soon so stay tuned for updates here on our website or on IG @ericenpleinair.   We're also excited for everyone to watch our Reeves-Reed Arboretum episode (#106) in Season 1, airing in June!

  Now available: a colorful, double-sided coffee mug.  We design all of our products ourselves and all purchases go to funding our program and supporting public media!  Visit our SHOP PAGE to see our other designed products. 

  We are only 2 months away from Season 1 of Eric En Plein Air airing nationwide and on the PBS App in June, 2026.  We are very excited and can't wait to share our program with viewers!
   And now, Season 2 is underway as we already have locations confirmed!  It is going to be a great season as we are visiting many amazing places.  If you have location suggestions, please send us a message through our CONTACT PAGE.
  As my journey continues, I am beginning to write a book which will be all about art, travel and nature; my book will be a long-term project, but I'm very thankful for all the connections and support.  I'm also currently getting ready for a trip back to France in May while we schedule more WORKSHOPS.
   Thank you for your continued support and please consider DONATING to help fund our program and to support public media.