Plein Air Paint Out enters second year at Red Brick Roads
By Sherry Lucas
The Red Brick Roads Plein Air Paint Out dips the paintbrush into its second year with an expanded outlook. Hosted by Wyatt Waters Gallery, it’s a chance for visual artists to get out of their studios and into the open air for a change, enjoy the camaraderie of fellow artists and give the public a peek into their process.
The Red Brick Roads Music and Arts Festival, March 26-28, is a joint production of Main Street Clinton, the Clinton Chamber of Commerce and City of Clinton.
“The addition of the Plein Air Paint Out to the festival last year brought a fine arts element into the event that we were missing,” Main Street Clinton Director Tara Lytal said. “We are thrilled that this addition to the event allowed us to partner with the Wyatt Waters Gallery. Wyatt and Kristi have been amazing supporters of our downtown revitalization.”
Held Friday and Saturday, March 27 and 28, in and around Olde Towne Clinton, the Paint Out pulls in artists of all skill levels — student, amateur and advanced — to paint outdoors and enjoy the festival to boot.
The expansion of the Paint Out to Friday as well as Saturday gives artists additional time, in case they want to create more than one work during the event — a move Paint Out organizer Kristi Waters said will particularly appeal to participating artists from out of town. Last year’s inaugural Paint Out attracted thirty-three artists from across the state, as well as from Louisiana and Alabama. A comparable number of artists is expected for the second annual Paint Out.
Social gatherings and gallery hospitality enhance the experience for visiting artists, and their Paint Out registration includes festival entry for Friday and Saturday. Festival-goers will be able to see art in action in and around the festival site as artists pick a good spot to paint.
“This is mostly about getting people together who do the same thing in the same place, with an atmosphere of encouragement and a place to show their pieces,” said artist/gallery owner Wyatt Waters, a plein air watercolorist often spotted at work outdoors around the state. “It’s really a chance to share your love of painting outside with other people who do the same thing.” He jokingly likened it to a support group for artists.
Paint Out times are noon to 5 p.m. on Friday, March 27 (optional) and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Olde Towne on Saturday, March 28. Art entries are turned in, and paintings will be hung for display from 2 to 3 p.m. at Wyatt Waters Gallery.
In a Plein Air Paint Out, festival-goers can see the brush work in action and art take shape before their eyes.
“It’s an opportunity for festival participants [to be] involved as artists’ paintings are developed,” Kristi Waters said. “When they’re watching a painting develop, they almost feel like they have ownership of it.”
Later, they often can actually have ownership of it.
Each selling artist will be given a unique QR code posted next to their artwork, directing the prospective buyer to artist contact information to arrange purchase, with sellers notifying the gallery of sales and festival organizers collecting sales tax.
“It’s a win-win for both festival-goers and artists,” Kristi Waters said.
The emphasis is on camaraderie and fellowship in this event, but there is an element of engagement for arts fans, too. Viewers can select a People’s Choice in each category from the works on display at the gallery, from 3 to 5 p.m. that Saturday at the festival. The People’s Choice presentation is at 5:30 p.m.
The Paint Out’s $90 registration fee includes a two-day pass to the Red Brick Roads festival, a Meet and Mingle Social, Red Brick Roads Paint Out swag bag, hospitality access to the Wyatt Waters Gallery for refreshments and restroom access, and lunch during Saturday’s Paint Out.
Registration is available at WyattWaters.com.
