Only a Few Workshop Spots Open!

The Roger Dale Brown Plein Air Workshop hosted by the Gadsden Museum of Art has only a few openings left! Here is an opportunity for intermediate and advanced artists to raise their paintings to a new level using the experiences and insights of master plein air painter Roger Dale Brown as a springboard.  Events include:


Sunday, April 6 at 2: Mr. Brown’s keynote presentation for the Southeastern Plein Air Invitational—a public lecture on the practice of plein air painting and its relevance to artists and collectors.

Sunday, April 6, 6-8: Orientation for workshop participants

On Location--

Day 1: Hokes Bluff

Monday, April 7, 9 to 5: Painting at a working farm in the Hokes Bluff with the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains as background.



Day 2: James Martin Wildlife Park

Tuesday, April 8, 9 to 5: Painting in the James Martin Wildlife Park in Gadsden offers water views, native plants, herons and other waterfowl.

Day 3: Noccalula Falls

Wednesday, April 9, 9 to 5: Painting at Noccalula Falls, a location that offers wrap-around views of a dramatic 90-foot waterfall, the rocky stream that feeds it and the deep gorge below the falls.  

Bonus: Artists have the option of sending one of their workshop paintings to be exhibited in the Southeastern Plein Air Invitational in the galleries of the Gadsden Museum of Art from April 13 (opening reception 2-4) through May 2.

More about the workshop:  Roger Dale Brown’s paintings have won first place and best of show awards, been juried into national exhibitions, published in Artist Magazine and American Art Collector, displayed in galleries throughout the United States, and collected by celebrities and corporations. He is dedicated to painting from life, on location, as the best way to enhance the ability to see the nuances of a scene. His goal is to capture the emotion what he sees and distill that into his paintings. Roger Dale Brown believes in passing along what he has learned through teaching. To learn more, visit Roger Dale Brown's website at www.rogerdalebrown.com

Workshop tuition: $425 (supplies not included).  A 50% deposit is required to reserve a space, $100 of which is not refundable.  Don’t delay, Mr. Brown’s classes fill quickly and space is strictly limited!  

To register for the workshop or request more information about the workshop or the SPAI, contact Elaine at the Gadsden Museum of Art (256-546-7365 or ecampbell@cityofgadsden.com).   

New @ Plein Air! Workshop, Nocturnes, Classic Cars, Contest

Jill Berry painting in 2012 SPAI

The Southeastern Plein Air Invitational (SPAI) lights up early April with new events and locations. The week begins with a Roger Dale Brown Workshop (details below) with three days of on-location painting, demos, and individualized instruction (April 6-9). Then, over a dozen experienced plein air painters will converge to paint locations in Gadsden/Etowah County (April 9-13). The opening reception on Sunday, April 13, 2-4, will launch the exhibition of their work in the galleries of the Gadsden Museum of Art through May 2.

New this year--

Downtown: Dusk to Dark  The latest trend in plein air painting is the nocturne—atmospheric works of the night often featuring the artificial lights of storefronts, neon, and street lights.  Gadsden’s Broad Street offers the ideal location with a vintage movie theater, period storefronts, and a bustling retail, restaurant, and bar scene.  

Classic Cars on the Coosa  Gleaming chrome, racy styling, and brilliant color combinations make classic cars an appealing and nostalgic subject for plein air painters. Gadsden’s car club members bring their best to the necklace of city parks along the Coosa River for a day that combines natural and automotive beauty.

Dueling Brushes  Prizes, a two-hour time limit, and a picturesque setting make for an exciting contest. In Gadsden’s Historic District, a Victorian house with landscaped garden, a white picket fence, gracious columned porch, and water feature offers the artists many options but they must be quick! Only two hours from start to finish with first, second, third prizes to be awarded and potential sales to me made while the paint is still wet!

The Southeastern Plein Air Invitational for 2014 offers artists, photographers, spectators, and collectors a diverse experience of on-location painting from workshop to exhibition!

About the workshop: Orientation on Sunday, April 6. Painting on location at a working farm, a wildlife park, and a waterfall, April 7-9.  Participants have the option of sending one of their workshop paintings to be exhibited in the Southeastern Plein Air Invitational in the galleries of the Gadsden Museum of Art.

Roger Dale Brown’s paintings have won first place and best of show awards, been juried into national exhibitions, published in Artist Magazine and American Art Collector, displayed in galleries throughout the United States, and collected by celebrities and corporations. He is dedicated to painting from life, on location, as the best way to enhance the ability to see the nuances of a scene. His goal is to capture the emotion what he sees and distill that into his paintings. Roger Dale Brown believes in passing along what he has learned through teaching. To learn more, visit Roger Dale Brown's website at www.rogerdalebrown.com

Workshop tuition: $425 (supplies not included).  A 50% deposit is required to reserve a space, $100 of which is not refundable.  Don’t delay, Mr. Brown’s classes fill quickly and space is strictly limited!  

To register for the workshop or request more information about the workshop or the SPAI, contact Elaine at the Gadsden Museum of Art (256-546-7365 or ecampbell@cityofgadsden.com).

What makes a good plein air workshop?

Roger Dale Brown workshop demonstration

ü  An instructor who is a skilled and talented painter. 
ü  The gift of time to visually explore inspiring locations. 
ü  Demonstrations that break down the painting process into its simplest form and build it back up into a finished artwork.
ü  Individualized instruction that makes the topics understandable for each student.

The Roger Dale Brown Plein Air Workshop hosted by the Gadsden Museum of Art, April 6-9, ticks all the boxes when it comes to a hands-on painting experience.  And, each student has the option of sending one workshop artwork to the Southeastern Plein Air Invitational Exhibition—an event that follows the workshop! 

Expert instruction, on-location painting, and the chance to exhibit in the Gadsden Museum of Art galleries—the ideal workshop experience for the plein air artist.  Here are some of the things artists in the workshop will explore:

·        Seeing different types of light.
·        Using atmospheric perspective to capture a feeling of space.
·        Representing the essence of a scene through the “art of comparison”.
·        Using hard and soft edges to draw attention to the focal point.
·        Mixing an infinite palette of greens.

“I try to explain things from a student’s perspective, at each student’s individual level.  I put myself in their shoes remembering when I was at their stage. That makes it easier to explain situations at each unique stage.”         ~Roger Dale Brown

About the workshop: Roger Dale Brown’s paintings have won first place and best of show awards, been juried into national exhibitions, published in Artist Magazine and American Art Collector, displayed in galleries throughout the United States, and collected by celebrities and corporations. He is dedicated to painting from life, on location, as the best way to enhance the ability to see the nuances of a scene. His goal is to capture the emotion what he sees and distill that into his paintings. Roger Dale Brown believes in passing along what he has learned through teaching. To learn more, visit Roger Dale Brown's website at www.rogerdalebrown.com

Workshop tuition: $425 (supplies not included).  A 50% deposit is required to reserve a space, $100 of which is not refundable.  Don’t delay, Mr. Brown’s classes fill quickly and space is strictly limited!  

To register for the workshop or request more information about the workshop or the SPAI, contact Elaine at the Gadsden Museum of Art (256-546-7365 or ecampbell@cityofgadsden.com).   

Abstract Design and Plein Air Painting

What makes one painting grab your attention from across the room while other paintings don’t?  You don’t have to know anything about design to react to the composition of a painting—your eyes and brain respond to the abstract arrangement of light and dark, warm and cool, harmony and contrast. The result is a feeling of attraction that doesn’t have to be explained in any words beyond, “I like it.”

It is different for the artist who must create that response through a series of decisions. As master plein air painter Roger Dale Brown explains,

“I always bring the landscape to its abstract and work with simple shapes and their value. I break the scene into a dominate color and its complement.” 

Roger Dale Brown demonstrates breaking down a scene into its abstract forms.

Beginning with an appealing scene, the artist must decide:

What part of the scene to include in the painting?

What will be the focal point (the part viewers will notice first)?

What range of colors best represent not just the scene but the artist’s emotional response to the scene?

Artists taking the Roger Dale Brown Plein Air Workshop hosted by the Gadsden Museum of Art, April 6-9, will see that decision process demonstrated over three days in three very different landscapes—on a working farm, in a wildlife park, and beside a waterfall.

About the workshop: Roger Dale Brown’s paintings have won first place and best of show awards, been juried into national exhibitions, published in Artist Magazine and American Art Collector, displayed in galleries throughout the United States, and collected by celebrities and corporations. He is dedicated to painting from life, on location, as the best way to enhance the ability to see the nuances of a scene. His goal is to capture the emotion what he sees and distill that into his paintings. Roger Dale Brown believes in passing along what he has learned through teaching. To learn more, visit Roger Dale Brown's website at www.rogerdalebrown.com

Workshop tuition: $425 (supplies not included).  A 50% deposit is required to reserve a space, $100 of which is not refundable.  Don’t delay, Mr. Brown’s classes fill quickly and space is strictly limited!  

To register for the workshop or request more information about the workshop or the SPAI, contact Elaine at the Gadsden Museum of Art (256-546-7365 or ecampbell@cityofgadsden.com).   

Green Banned from the Plein Air Painters Palette!

For the plein air painter, green is the most difficult color.  So much of what one sees in a landscape is green. But which green? Yellowish sap green? Blue-green viridian? Earthy oxide green? Brilliant phthalo green?  According to Roger Dale Brown, master plein air painter, begin with no tube green on your palette!

“I do not use a green because when I do, it becomes the dominant color in all the greens in the painting.  I mix the green for the specific area I’m focused on.  This insures a variety of greens—the key to successful painting.”                  ~Roger Dale Brown

The green that the eye sees depends on the season, time of the day, light conditions, and the subject matter—a meadow of wildflowers in full sun will appear a very different green than a shady pine tree thicket. Artists taking the Roger Dale Brown Plein Air Workshop hosted by the Gadsden Museum of Art, April 6-9, will learn how to mix the best green, one that is specific to the time and the situation, using a primary palette of red, blue, and yellow.  But which reds, blues, and yellows?  Mr. Brown shifts colors in and out of his palette but there are favorites that can always be found in his combination of warm and cool primaries and a few earth tones. 

As every elementary school child knows, mixing yellow and blue makes green. But there are an many greens in every landscape. Light or dark, bright or muted, warm or cool—in this workshop artists will learn to see green, mix green, and paint green in all its infinite variety! Sign up for the workshop and discover the secrets of mixing greens to capture a moment in time.  

About the workshop: Roger Dale Brown’s paintings have won first place and best of show awards, been juried into national exhibitions, published in Artist Magazine and American Art Collector, displayed in galleries throughout the United States, and collected by celebrities and corporations. He is dedicated to painting from life, on location, as the best way to enhance the ability to see the nuances of a scene. His goal is to capture the emotion what he sees and distill that into his paintings. Roger Dale Brown believes in passing along what he has learned through teaching. To learn more, visit Roger Dale Brown's website at www.rogerdalebrown.com

Workshop tuition: $425 (supplies not included).  A 50% deposit is required to reserve a space, $100 of which is not refundable.  Don’t delay, Mr. Brown’s classes fill quickly and space is strictly limited!  

To register for the workshop or request more information about the workshop (April 6-9) or the Southeastern Plein Air Invitational (April  9-13), contact Elaine at the Gadsden Museum of Art (256-546-7365 or ecampbell@cityofgadsden.com).   

Locations for Roger Dale Brown Plein Air Workshop

Three days on location.

Three completely different landscapes.

Three chances to learn from a master painter.

 

"To me there are two ways to see. One is literal which includes the basic fundamentals and the other is something more intuitive that brings the emotion to the painting. It makes the painting unique to your personality." 

                                    ~Roger Dale Brown

Artists taking the Roger Dale Brown Plein Air Workshop hosted by the Gadsden Museum of Art, April 6-9, will experience locations that challenge and inspire. 

DAY ONE: The group will be guests on a working farm with fields, barns and farm buildings against a background of distant mountains.

DAY TWO: Artists will set up in a wildlife park featuring water views, an arched footbridge, native plants, and herons, Canadian geese, and ducks. 

DAY THREE:  Paint next to a 90-foot waterfall on top of Lookout Mountain!  Walking trails, landscaped gardens, and a rocky stream bed offer many options for plein air studies.

 

All locations offer convenient access, parking, and nearby restaurants.

“I look at the whole of a scene that intrigues me. I lock in on something—a focal point. It can be something as simple as the light hitting a tree or colors that complement each other.  Then, I work what’s around the focal point into a design of darks, lights and color.”     

                                           ~Roger Dale Brown

About the workshop: Roger Dale Brown’s paintings have won first place and best of show awards, been juried into national exhibitions, published in Artist Magazine and American Art Collector, displayed in galleries throughout the United States, and collected by celebrities and corporations. He is dedicated to painting from life, on location, as the best way to enhance the ability to see the nuances of a scene. His goal is to capture the emotion what he sees and distill that into his paintings. Roger Dale Brown believes in passing along what he has learned through teaching. To learn more, visit Roger Dale Brown's website at www.rogerdalebrown.com

Workshop tuition: $425 (supplies not included).  A 50% deposit is required to reserve a space, $100 of which is not refundable.  Don’t delay, Mr. Brown’s classes fill quickly and space is strictly limited!  

To register for the workshop or request more information about the workshop or the SPAI, contact Elaine at the Gadsden Museum of Art (256-546-7365 or ecampbell@cityofgadsden.com).   

Roger Dale Brown Plein Air Workshop, Gadsden, Alabama

Roger Dale Brown’s paintings have won first place and best of show awards, been juried into national exhibitions, published in Artist Magazine and American Art Collector, displayed in galleries throughout the United States, and collected by celebrities and corporations. But best of all, he is one of the few successful artists who is also a talented teacher.  As he says,

“I try to explain things from a student’s perspective…put myself in their shoes. That makes it easier to explain situations at each stage. I figure out the best way to teach each student...the best way to impart a sense of accomplishment.”

Roger Dale Brown will present a plein air workshop hosted by the Gadsden Museum of Art beginning with orientation on Sunday, April 6 (6- 8 p.m.) and followed by three days of on-location demonstrations and painting (April 7-9, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.). Each participant will have the option to display one paintings created during the workshop at the Southeastern Plein Air Invitational which commences immediately following the workshop (more information about the SPAI in future blogs).

What can students expect in the workshop? Roger Dale Brown explains,

“I have good success by coupling verbal and visual teaching and then giving students the chance to implement it themselves. Different types of light, drawing simple shapes, understanding the values of those shapes, and atmospheric perspective can be shown in a class with significant success…success which in turn creates a passion and passion goes a long way in the learning process.”

Roger Dale Brown has studied with nationally recognized artists Evert Raymond Kinstler, Quang Ho, C.W. Mundy, and landscape artist Scott Christensen. He has studied the writings and works of Edgar Payne, John Carlson, and Andrew Wyeth and claims them as an influence on his own work. He is dedicated to painting from life, on location, as the best way to enhance the ability to see the nuances of a scene. His goal is to capture the emotion what he sees and distill that into his paintings.

“By studying the facets of a location, I get the knowledge and inspiration to create my paintings.”

Roger Dale Brown believes in passing along what he has learned through teaching. His workshop is designed for the intermediate to advanced painter.

“When I lecture or give a demonstration, I don’t hold back information. All students may not understand all the theory or logic presented but the will grasp what they need at the time. Understanding individual needs, I can work within the capabilities of each person.”

To learn more, visit Roger Dale Brown's website at www.rogerdalebrown.com

Workshop tuition: $425 (supplies not included).  A 50% deposit is required to reserve a space, $100 of which is not refundable.  Don’t delay, Mr. Brown’s classes fill quickly and space is strictly limited!  To register for the workshop or request more information, contact Elaine at the Gadsden Museum of Art (256-546-7365 or ecampbell@cityofgadsden.com).   

OVER 150 NEW PLEIN AIR PAINTINGS!

Wyatt Waters captures a fast flowing stream in vibrant colors.

With 15 professional plein air painters in town, the walls of the Gadsden Museum of Art soon fill with amazing art!  For locals the Southeastern Plein Air Invitational offers a chance to see sights we see everyday in a new, exciting, and provocative light--light very literally.  The plein air artists seek to capture not just the subject but also the fleeting light effects of a spring day in the south.  For everyone the collection offers the chance to share the experience of being there with the artist, seeing what the artist sees, and appreciating the beauty of nature.

Here is a link to view the over 150 paintings created between April 9 and 13.

http://www.gadsdenart.com/Intro.html

ARTISTS DISCOVER A SOUTHERN SPRING

Jill Berry finds blooms bordering a path--the essence of a spring walk.
















Craig Reynolds combines dappled light and smooth water to create a spring memory.













Wyatt Waters captured the art deco green-and-black front of a White Castle Cafe from the mid-twentieth century.











Ron Bayens discovered a street fair and came back with a painting of a slice of life for the kid in everyone.







Today is Artist's Choice day at the Southeastern Plein Air Invitational--artists can go anywhere in the city/county and find the subject that most represents their style. To see the results of their search, join the artist at the opening reception at the Gadsden Museum of Art, 515 Broad Street, Gadsden--Friday, April 13, 6-8 p.m.

MONDAY: THREE HISTORICAL DOWNTOWNS IN PLEIN AIR

Artists will find the streetscape of Broad Street in Gadsden little changed from that shown in vintage postcards. Many storefronts feature the original owner's name and the date when they were built--the oldest from the turn of the 20th Century with others added through mid-century. The same is true for Alabama City and Attalla--all possible destinations for the first day of the Southeastern Plein Air Invitational.

Artists will find many architectural gems waiting to be painted including:

• Movie palace marquee--the Pitman in Gadsden and the Ritz in Alabama City.
• A prime example of Art Deco style, the former White Palace with its green glass facade banded in black on Broad Street in Gadsden.
• The 50s vibe at the Magic Burger with its turquoise and red color scheme and original sign topped by an ice cream cone (halfway between Gadsden and Attalla).
• The Nichols Memorial Library built in 1899, the first public library building in Alabama and listed on the National Register of Historical Places, it anchors Alabama City's Wall Street.
• Alabama Power got its start in Attalla and the office there has the only remaining Reddy Kilowatt sign, the company's original logo.
• The main intersection in Attalla features the former Walker's Drug with its original sign (now an antique store), a florist and wedding chapel, the city bell and gazebo.
  

What will the artist choose? Streetscape, architectural gem, storefronts with colorful merchandise, street vendors, or people shopping? After Monday night, we will know because the artists must turn in each day's paintings at the Gadsden Museum of Art. Visitors to the museum can see them on the following day. But none will be for sale until the reception Friday night, 6-8 p.m. The public is invited to meet the artists and see Gadsden, Alabama City, and Attalla through their eyes.

For daily information on the Invitational:

Follow this blog on and other information on the Gadsden Museum of Art web site (gadsdenmuseum.com).

Call or visit the museum (515 Broad Street in Gadsden, 256 546-7365)

ART QUEST: 15 Chances to Win Art Collectables

Left: Sample of Art Quest postcard.

The season for hunting Easter eggs may be over but another quest begins during the Southeastern Plein Air Invitational, April 9-13. In the fourth year of the event a new feature has been added—ART QUEST! 15 chances to win sketches, studies, and other art collectables donated by the 15 professional artists painting on location in the Gadsden area. Three ways to join in Art Quest:

1) See the artists painting on location and view the finished paintings in the Gadsden Museum of Art galleries.

2) Collect a postcard from each artist. The postcards are a free souvenir of the experience and include the artist’s picture, a reproduction of a painting showing their distinctive style, and a quote explaining their approach to creating art.

3) Collect five different postcards to become eligible for the drawing of sketches, studies, or prints from the plein air artists. Simply show your postcards at the Blue Umbrella (information central for each location), or at the Gadsden Museum of Art office during the week, or bring the postcards to the opening reception to enter the drawing.

The drawing will be held during the opening reception on Friday, April 13, 6-8 p.m., at the museum.

The public is invited to see the week’s paintings, meet the artists, and congratulate the Art Quest winners. All works completed during the event will be on exhibit and awards winners will be announced at the reception. All paintings will be available for purchase. Paintings will continue on exhibit through May 14.

Postcards will be available every day but some locations make collecting the cards easier.

Monday, April 9, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the artists will be painting in downtown Gadsden, Attalla, and Alabama City.

Wednesday, April 11, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. artists will be in the parks along the Coosa River including Coosa Landing (the city boat dock), Lafferty’s landing boardwalk, Jack Ray Family Park (behind the Hampton Inn), and James Martin Wildlife Park (behind the mall).

Friday, April 13, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., find the artists in Gadsden’s historic residential neighborhoods—Turrentine and Haralson Avenues; Argyle Circle; Reynolds, Walnut and Chestnut Streets.

The two other days of the event artists will be more widely distributed and in less accessible situations: On Tuesday, April 10, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the area around Gallant and on Thursday, April 12, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the artists are on their own to find the locations they most want to capture in paint.

To find daily information on the Invitational:

• Look for the Blue Umbrella on location.
• Consult the GMA Web site and follow the event in this blog.
• Call GMA (236 546-7365) or stop by the museum at 515 Broad Street

Staff and volunteers will be available to assist visitors.

Nationally Known Artists Coming to Gadsden

Artists will converge on Gadsden beginning April 9-13 for the fourth Southeastern Plein Air Invitational hosted by the Gadsden Museum of Art (GMA). With gallery shows, Web sites, award winning paintings, and eager collectors, these professionals could paint anywhere but choose to come to Gadsden for its scenic beauty and friendly, informal atmosphere.

V….Vaughn (her signature is as original as her artwork) toured the U.S. with her one-woman show of 365 plein air paintings recording the last days of her family’s farm in Texas, a show that ended its run at GMA. She has painted in Gadsden several times and conducted workshops for local artists. Several of her paintings are in the permanent collection of GMA and in private collections here.

Dot Courson of Pontotac, Mississippi, is making her third trip to Gadsden. At last year’s event she won the top award in the Quick Draw Competition, a special feature of the Southeastern Plein Air Invitational where artists must complete a painting in only two hours. In March, 2012, Courson had a solo exhibit at a gallery in Tupelo. As a member of Women Painters of the Southeast her work will be on exhibit at a gallery in Jacksonville, lorida, beginning April 27. Millie Gosch of Roswell, Georgia, who was also juried into the Women Painters of the Southeast, will be returning for her second painting trip to Gadsden.

Two artists will be adding an international flavor-- Dmitriy Proshkin, originally from Russia but now living near Chattanooga, and Ron Bayens, originally from Canada but now living in Auburn. Proshkin has painted in Gadsden many times and his works are in the permanent collection of the GMA and private collections here. Bayens painted in Gadsden at the 2009 event and turned a rainy day downtown into a painting that is now part of the permanent collection of the GMA.

John Guernsey, originally from southern California but now living in Marietta, Georgia, is a favorite of local art collectors. His painting of Noccalula Falls was acquired for the permanent collection of the GMA and fellow artists have voted his work ‘best in show’ for the last two years. Another painter making a splash with a painting of Noccalula Falls, Katrina Weber of Huntsville, will be returning this year. Her close-up view of water rushing over the falls shows how an artist can take scene familiar to thousands and turn it into original
art.

Craig Reynolds of Rainbow City and Gina Brown of Glencoe demonstrate that artistic talent doesn’t have to be imported. Their understanding of the locales, scenery, and history of Gadsden add a special depth to their paintings. Both have paintings in the permanent
collection of GMA but their paintings don’t always stay local: Reynolds is represented by galleries in Charleston and New Orleans and Brown by galleries in Northport, AL and Charleston.

Jill Berry from Pensacola, Florida, made an impression on her first trip to Gadsden last year with her bright, colorful garden scenes and use of the palette knife to add a lively texture to her paintings. She is returning for her second year and will be joined by artists participating for the first time including:

Amy Peterson from Hoover, AL

Karen Weir from Catherine, AL

Amanda Carder from Cummin, GA

Charles Young Walls from Atlanta, GA

Wyatt Waters from Clinton, MS.

Come see Gadsden through the eyes of the 15 professional artists who will be painting in Gadsden April 9-13.

Join the artists on location or at the opening reception on Friday, April 13, 6-8 p.m. All works completed during the event will be on exhibit and awards winners will be announced. All paintings will be available for purchase at the reception and online. The exhibition will continue through May 14.

To find daily information on the Invitational:

Look for the Blue Umbrella on location--volunteers will be available to assist visitors.

Consult the GMA Web site and follow the event on this GMA daily blog.

Stop by GMA at 515 Broad Street, Gadsden.

For online sales go to gadsdenmuseum.com. Or, call GMA (236 546-7365).

ARTIST RETURN FOR FOUTH PLEIN AIR!

River, mountains, historic architecture, and spring gardens make Gadsden an art destination for 15 professional artists attending the fourth annual Southeastern Plein Air Invitational, April 9-l3. Alabama artists will be joined by those from Texas,Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee for a week of painting “en plein air” (in the open air).

Hosted by the Gadsden Museum of Art this year’s event features popular local artists Craig Reynolds and Gina Brown; returning favorites Virginia Vaughn, Dmitry Proshkin, and John Guernsey; and artists new to the event. Locations include parks along the Coosa, the three historic downtowns of Gadsden, Alabama City, and Attalla, and other scenic vistas around Etowah County.

In the five days of on-location painting, the artists will create over 150 original paintings. The public is invited to watch the artists daily. Paintings will be on exhibit and for sale beginning with a reception on Friday, April 13, 6-8 p.m. The exhibition continues through May 12.

For additional information, contact the Gadsden Museum of Art (256 547-7365 or
gadsdenmuseum.com). Watch this blog for news on event planning, the arrival and experiences of the artists, the reception and sale, and the exhibition.

PAINT OUT EXHIBIT

Amy Peterson's view of autumn in Wills Creek Vineyard.

Paintings completed during the Southeastern Paint Out are now on exhibit in the Gadsden Museum of Art until November 11. See the paintings in this blog plus over 60 other originals daily 10-4 (except Sunday). Paintings are available for purchase.

Cynthia McGinnis's impressions of the gorge at Noccalula Falls.

Karen Weir focuses on the bright yellow of a tree silhouetted against a mountain in the Duck Springs community.

Mary McCormick captures fallen leaves and the refection of the sky on still water.

Peggy Kilgo captures the charm of a storefront in downtown Gadsden.

Don Housler is inspired by the residential architecture in Gadsden's Historical Districts including the dappled sunlight effects.

Kevin Keenan's streetscape of Cleveland Avenue combines the geometry of man-made structures with the beauty of autumn trees.

PAINT OUT: DAY 5 + GALLERY OPENING

See the entire Paint Out collection in the third floor galley at The Gadsden Museum of Art (515 Broad Street) through November 11--8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily except Sunday.

The last day of Southeastern Paint Out offered perfect weather, fall color, roses, and vintage architecture in Gadsden’s Historic District. Painting ended early so that artists, museum staff, and volunteers could prepare for the gallery opening at 6 p.m. But before the end of the session five artists participated in a Quick Draw competition in Judy and Don Bacon’s rose garden on Reynolds Street—a timed two-hour period where each artist completed a single painting.

At the gallery opening people came early and stayed to closing at 8 p.m. Bidders in the Wet Paint auction began picking their favorites and placing bids as soon as they entered the gallery—three lucky patrons won their choice when bidding ended. The remaining collection of over 60 original paintings is available for purchase beginning on Saturday and continuing daily through November 11 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily except Sunday). The gallery buzzed with people discussing the paintings with the artists and selecting the paintings they hoped to buy. Some of the most enthusiastic potential purchasers were the youngest—teens who came to the opening as an artist’s guest or with parents who were museum members.

Craig Reynolds, artist in residence for the Southeastern Paint Out, judged the Quick Draw selecting Kevin Keenan’s painting as the winner. Over $300 in prize money was awarded to participants in the Quick Draw, a donation by Craig, his sister, and his mother. Craig graciously presented the prizes while explaining the difficulties and special skills involved in creating a successful plein air painting.

After an intense week of painting through wind, rain, and finally, fair weather, the results of the artist's efforts hung on the gallery walls. The artists were exhausted but exhilarated by their experiences at the Southeastern Paint Out. Many took time to express their appreciation to the staff and volunteers of the Gadsden Museum of Art for their support and assistance during the week.

PAINT OUT: DAY 4

Vintage postcard offers greetings from Gadsden. The plein air painters offer another way to celebrate the beauty and variety of scenic Gadsden--see them painting today in the Historic Districts and discover a week's worth of creativty tonight at the opening reception at the Gadsden Museum of Art.

The sun finally came out on the artists in the Southeastern Paint Out Thursday when predicted rain made only one or two short appearances. Taking advantage of the favorable weather, painters spent the morning in downtown Gadsden capturing cityscapes and street scenes. In the afternoon they moved to the brow of Lookout Mountain (Scenic Drive) for dramatic overlooks of the city on one side of the ridge and rural valleys on the other.

TODAY’S LOCATION: Gadsden’s Historical Districts

Victorians from the late-1890s, craftsmen bungalows from the 1920s, and other architectural styles await them. Wide front porches decorated with fall flowers and wicker combine with landscaped yards to create a nostalgic street scene. Dogwoods, maples and other trees show off the reds, oranges, and yellows of early fall. October blue skies above—not a cloud in the sky—make for the strong value contrasts and lush colors plein air painters revel in.

Come by and see the painters on their last day of painting in the Southeastern Paint Out sponsored by the Gadsden Museum of Art. The streets are wide and parking is easy. Sidewalks make walking easy, too. For information on the exact locations of painters, check with the museum volunteers at the corner of Walnut and Turrentine Avenue—look for the blue market umbrella. Or, just ride around looking for easels—artists will be scattered along Turrentine Avenue; Haraldson, Reynolds, and Walnut Streets; and Argyle Circle.

SPECIAL EVENT: THE QUICK DRAW

This afternoon artists will participate in a Quick Draw competition. Museum staff will pick a location somewhere in the Historical District and artists will have only two hours to complete a painting of some aspect of that location. Prizes for the winners of the Quick Draw will be announced at the opening reception.

TONIGHT’S OPENING RECEPTION—You are invited!

See the entire week’s collection while enjoying light refreshments at the opening reception tonight (October 14) from 6 to 8 p.m. Selected works from each artist will be featured in a Wet Paint Auction--—HINT! HINT! The best paintings of the week!

EXHIBIT—October 15-November 1

Discover a new way to see Gadsden! The paintings from the Southeastern Paint Out will be on display and available for purchase at the museum through November 11.