Cover Artist: Ruth Squitieri
2019 celebrates the 9th Plein Air Paint Out
in New Smyrna Beach
This October, twenty-five of the finest professional artists will come together to paint our coastal seascapes, dune habitats, lagoon, marinas and the unique and historic scenes of our charming community.
Outdoor enthusiasts and art lovers will once again have the opportunity to come together in support of two wonderful causes. The Marine Discovery Center and the Artists’ Workshop are pleased to host the 9th Annual New Smyrna Beach Plein Air Paint Out from October 19 through 26, 2019. Twenty-five professionally-acclaimed plein air artists will paint outside from dawn to dusk at locations in New Smyrna Beach and nearby areas. The public is invited to watch the artists at work, view their recently completed paintings in the Artists’ Workshop gallery, and attend free daily painting demonstrations. Special events include a Plein Air Artist/Patron Champagne Reception and Battle of the Brushes Grand Finale.
The 2019 Plein Air Paint Out will continue the legacy of fund-raising to enhance our environmental education programs and art programs and to further the goals of both the Marine Discovery Center and the Artists’ Workshop of conservation and stewardship of the Indian River Lagoon and art appreciation to our youth, community and visitors.
• Become a NSB Paint Out Sponsor and/or Patron •
We invite you to support the Marine Discovery Center and the Artists’ Workshop by becoming a Sponsor and/or Patron. By joining our patron/sponsor program you are pledging your support for conservation of the Indian River Lagoon and art programs in our community.
Want to know what benefits you’ll receive by becoming a NSB Paint Out Sponsor or Patron?
Download our Sponsor/Patron pamphlet for all the details.
• Schedule of Events •
The schedule will be updated as the event nears.
Saturday, October 19
The artists will arrive on Sunday, October 20. We have planned kick-off events for the public
10 am – 12 noon | Quick Draw. A friendly, fast-paced, two-hour competition open to all levels of artists and all types of media.
Registration fee of $25. Cash prizes.
Location: Old Fort Park, New Smyrna Beach
Register for Quick Draw today!!
Fish Printing Demonstration. Watch a demonstration of the beautiful Japanese art of gyotaku, or fish printing on rice paper. Open and free to the public. Location: Old Fort Park, New Smyrna Beach
Sunday, October 20
Artists arrive in New Smyrna Beach.
5 pm – 7 pm | Artists’ Welcome Orientation. Location and time TBD
Monday, October 21
Gallery Closed
10 am – 12 noon | Artist Painting Demonstration. Open and free to the public. Audience is encouraged to ask questions. Location and art technique TBD
Sunset Paint Out. Watch the artists paint! Open and free to the public. Location and time TBD
Tuesday, October 22
Gallery Hours: 12 noon – 7 pm
1 pm- 4 pm | Art in the Park. All artists will be painting in Riverside Park. Open and free to the public.
Wednesday, October 23
Gallery Hours: 12 noon – 7 pm
10 am – 12 noon | Artist Painting Demonstration. Open and free to the public. Audience is encouraged to ask questions. Location and art technique TBD.
2 pm – 4 pm | Artist Painting Demonstration. Open and free to the public. Audience is encouraged to ask questions. Location and art technique TBD.
Thursday, October 24
Gallery Hours: 12 noon – 7 pm
9 am – 1 pm | Kids’ Paint Out too! Open and free to public. Watch talented middle- schoolers paint. Outside on the MDC/AWi campus, 520/540 Barracuda Blvd., New Smyrna Beach
1 pm – 3 pm | Artist Painting Demonstration. Open and free to the public. Audience is encouraged to ask questions. Location and art technique TBD.
4:30 pm – 6 pm | Champagne Artist and Patron Reception. An opportunity for patrons to view the art and chat with the artists. Appetizers and champagne, music. Location | The Wet Gallery at Artists’ Workshop, 540 Barracuda Blvd., New Smyrna Beach. Ticketed event.
Friday, October 25
Gallery Hours: 12 noon- 7 pm
10 am – 12 noon | Artist Painting Demonstration. Open and free to the public. Audience is encouraged to ask questions. Location and art technique TBD.
Saturday, October 26
Gallery Hours: 9 am – 8 pm
4 pm – 8 pm | Battle of the Brushes – The Grand Finale. Ticketed event only. Hors d’oeuvres, wine, desserts, music, and the entire collection of the week’s art available for purchase. A unique work of art painted in succession by three artists to be auctioned. Location | The Pavilion at Artists’ Workshop, 540 Barracuda Blvd.
• What is En Plein Air Painting? •
“One of the best things that artists can do to advance his/her art is to be in the company of other artists. The opportunity to meet other artists, to talk to them and watch them work is of the highest benefit to anyone working to improve their art.” ~ Jean Stern, Executive Director, The Irvine Museum
Plein Air Paint Out offers just that opportunity.
En plein air is a French expression meaning “in the open air,” and refers to the act of painting outdoors with the artist’s subject in full view. Plein air artists capture the spirit and essence of a landscape or subject by incorporating natural light, color and movement into their works.
Artists have long painted outdoors, but in the mid-1800s painting landscapes and other scenes on location finally became practical due to two important inventions: paints in tubes and the box easel.
The high point of plein air art came with the emergence of Impressionism. Artists of that period included Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, Cezanne and Van Gogh. Interest in outdoor painting has remained constant since the 20th century. Today’s artists carry on the traditions of these past masters by capturing the light and movement in landscapes that can only come from seeing the subject outdoors in its natural form.
The last 20 years has seen a resurgence of interest in plein air painting in the United States. During this time, groups of plein air artists began gathering together to paint at single locations or within certain geographic boundaries. These “Paint Outs” are now very popular and give artists a chance to share their talents and creativity with the public and with one another.
