Every once in a while, a person comes along with a rare combination of talent, humility, and humor.

Joe Palmerio is that kind of guy.

He has attended the finest art schools in the Philadelphia region, been represented by and shown work at numerous galleries, and taught at plein air “paint out” workshops across the country, yet he is as down to earth as they come.

It’s really not that surprising since his character lends itself to his medium.

“En plein-air” means outdoors in French; in art, it refers to a style of painting that captures the artist’s impression of a scene in a loose, energetic style that is free from the formality and conventions of painting in the studio. The style was first popularized in the 19th century by French impressionist painters such as Monet, Renoir, and Pissarro.

“As both a nature lover and a photographer, this style resonates with me,” said Amber Breiner, tasting room manager at Wild Elder Wine and Cider Co. “There is hardly anything more relaxing than comfortably observing a scene with the mission of capturing the energy of the place. I’ve never done more than doodle in a sketchbook, but I’ve always been well pleased with my efforts since they captured ephemeral moments that could never be recreated, uniquely experienced and seen by me.

“Trees, light, people (if any), the built environment, cars, etc. all will change if you come back tomorrow. They’ll be similar, but never the same.”

With plein-air painting, your job is to be there and capture not only what you see but what you feel in that unique moment in time in that place. As photography grows more and more prolific, with all the phone-wielding photographers snapping away, the thought of studying a scene patiently and distilling down its essence appeals to many.

Are you interested to explore this style of painting further?

Wild Elder Wine and Cider in Jim Thorpe is hosting the work of Joe Palmerio all month at 76 Broadway and will host two unique opportunities to meet him, engage with his work, and perhaps learn from him to create this style of work on your own.

From 5-8 p.m. today, Palmerio will showcase a specially curated selection of his work. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served and drinks will be available for purchase.

Joe’s work will be on sale the month of July and available for purchase at Wild Elder.

Palmerio is also hosting a plein-air class on the business’ beautiful back patio from 1-5 p.m. on July 12. Details and registration can be found at wildelder.com.

Palmerio was born in Philadelphia in 1949 and was trained in various media and techniques. In addition to practicing and teaching art, he was a roofer, a director of outdoor recreation, an airplane pilot, a boat captain, and even starred in a short film which screened at the Sarasota Film Festival in 2011.

He and his wife Goia divide their time between Florida and Pennsylvania.

For more information on Palmerio and his work, visit palmerioart.com.