Plein Air Paint Out
| August 23, 2008 | ||
| 10:00 am | to | 3:00 pm |
Painting “en plein air” means painting outside from whatever you see around you. Aside from obvious challenges like weather and hauling easel and supplies to the site, other things make plein air a test of an artist’s skill. For example, the direction of the light shifts dramatically as the sun moves across the sky in just a few hours. Color also shifts subtly throughout the day.
On Saturday, August 23, artists will gather in Bellingham for the 3rd Annual Plein Air Paint Out (PAPO). The purpose of the event, besides an enjoyable day of painting, is to increase visibility for artists and call attention to the fact that “gentrification” of older areas of downtown (tearing down old buildings to replace them with upscale condos, etc.) has a side effect of eliminating affordable studio space for artists. In Fairhaven, for example, only one building still houses studio space, and many of the galleries have become gift shops. Bellingham still has a lively older downtown area, and can take steps now to protect space for those creating art in the future.
I’ll be participating in the PAPO this year. If you’re in Bellingham on Aug. 23rd, look for us on or near the Holly St. corridor. I’ll probably be in the Maritime Heritage Park near the river.
Also, see a separate calendar item for details about the PAPO show to be held at the Blue Horse Gallery in November. They’ll be exhibiting the art created during this year’s PAPO event.
