What is Plein Air Painting?:
Plein air painting is about leaving the four walls of your studio behind and experiencing painting and drawing in the landscape. The practice goes back for centuries but was truly made into an art form by the French Impressionists. Their desire to paint light and its changing, ephemeral qualities, coupled with the creation of transportable paint tubes and the box easel—the precursor to the plein air easels of today—allowed artists the freedom to paint “en plein air,” which is the French expression for “in the open air.”
SCCA PLEIN AIR INVITATIONAL : Tuesday, September 7 – Saturday, September 11, 2021, featured artist Thomas Bradshaw of Blackstone, VA and talented artists from all over will be inspired to paint Suffolk’s historic downtown, beautiful farmland, and pristine waterfront. This event is hosted by the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts and co-chaired by Suffolk artists Barbara Harris and Sandy Waters.
The Plein Air Invitational 2021 continues on Saturday evening, September 11 with special ticketed ‘Suffolk Plein Air Cocktail Reception‘, providing heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks and showcasing the newly painted Plein Air works of art.
ENTRY GUIDELINES:
- Juried Artist Registration Fee is $35.00 Registration and payments are available online at suffolkcenter.org. Application deadline: July 1, 2021.
- Check-in from 4-6 PM on Thursday, September 9th or 8:30 -9:30 AM on Friday, September 10th at the Suffolk Cultural Arts Center.
- The Plein Air Invitational will take place Rain or Shine.
- A CASH AWARD will be given for the Best In Show, $3,000, 2nd Place, $1,000, on Saturday evening along with 3rd Place, $500, CASH awards. Additional non-monetary awards given for Top Rural, Top Waterway and Top Urban paintings.
- Contact Sandy Waters at jesters@suffolkcenter.org to request lodging.
PLEIN AIR INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE:
SEPT. 7-8, Check in at 9 AM – Thomas Bradshaw Plein Air Workshop
SEPT. 8-9, Check in at 9 AM – Barbara Harris Plein Air Workshop
SEPT. 9, 4 – 6 PM – Artist Registration and Artist Welcome Reception. Stamp your canvases at the Suffolk Cultural Arts Center
SEPT. 10, 8:30-9:30AM – Artist Registration continues at the Suffolk Center.
SEPT. 10, 8:30 AM – 4PM – Plein Air Painting Starts, Rain or Shine. Artists will be provided with suggested painting locations throughout Suffolk, VA.
SEPT. 10, 4:30 PM – Artist’s Dinner at The Suffolk Art Gallery.
SEPT. 11, 9 AM – Artist DEMO by Thomas Bradshaw
SEPT. 11, 11 AM – Quick Draw Check-In Begins at the Taste of Suffolk on Main Street.
SEPT. 11, 12 – 2PM – Quick Draw painting at Taste of Suffolk.
SEPT. 11, 2 – 2:30PM – Painters bring work to the garden area between the Courthouse and the building housing
Harper’s Table for judging.
SEPT. 11, 2 – 3:30 – Quick Draw Wet Paint Sale and Awards
SEPT. 11, 6:30 – 7:30 – Sponsors and Patrons Pre-Sale Reception
SEPT. 11, 7:30 – 9:30 PM – Reception: The cost for this special event is $100 per person / Space is Limited! The evening includes:
• Heavy Hors d’oeuvres
• Open bar
• Live Music
• Wet Paint Sale – Showcasing the newly painted works of art by the invited and juried artists, providing guests with first access to purchasing the new artwork created during the Plein Air Invitational.
SEPT. 12, 9:00 AM – 10:30AM -Artist’s Brunch (Invitation Only) Artists will pick up unsold work
For more information on the SCCA Plein Air Invitational, please contact Sandy Waters or Pat Eelman at the Suffolk Center: 757.925.1800
JOIN THE SUFFOLK CENTER PLEIN AIR SOCIETY!Lead by artists Barbara Harris and Sandy Waters, the Plein Air Society encourages interest in the plein air method of painting designating monthly painting locations throughout the Hampton Roads Area. Membership is open to all levels. The Plein Air Society meets the 2nd Saturday of each month from 10 AM – 2 PM at the Suffolk Center, 110 W. Finney Ave., Suffolk, VA 23434.