Plein Air Paintout AND Summer Dream Porch Picnic!!

Join us at Summer Dream for an artful celebration you'll not soon forget! (Scroll down to learn how you may WIN a two-night stay at Summer Dream!!)

PLEIN AIR PAINTERS CREATE LASTING MEMORIES OF FORGOTTEN COAST IN GREAT PAINT-OUT MAY 7-17, 2009

“Plein Air” Defined: According to the website, PleinAirFl.com
“Plein Air” , a French word, simply translated means ”open air”. The roots of plein air painting are found in 19th-century Europe. An Englishman, John Constable, believed that artists should forget” formulas” and trust their own vision in finding truth in nature.

About the same time in France, in a small village called Barbizon, a group of artists focused their attention on a subject matter that had never been done before, everyday life and the natural world surrounding it. These realists laid the ground work for the next development: Impressionism. Plein air forever changed how artists see the world.

A true plein air painting is done on location, capturing the atmosphere of the moment. The majority of the painting must be completed on site with little to no work to be done in the studio. Most artists agree this is the true test of skill as it requires complete confidence in placement of color and brushwork in a short amount of time. For example, a sunset may only last 30-40 minutes. That would be all the time the artist has to capture the scene.

Nationally recognized plein air artists have been selected to capture the allure of the Florida's Forgotten Coast with paint and canvas. Artists will be painting on the beach, across the marsh, beside the lakes and throughout the streets of waterfront towns from Mexico Beach, Windmark, Port St. Joe, Cape San Blas, Apalachicola, Eastpoint, St. George Island, Carrabelle, and inland at Wewahitchka. You are cordially invited to join us at this premier art exhibition and sale featuring on-location artists. Experience beauty through the eyes of America's finest plein air artists!Plein air is all about capturing the light and the nuance of life in a natural outdoor setting.

Schedule of Events
May 8-17 Watch Art Happen, artists paint between Mexico Beach and Alligator Point

May 10-16 WindMark Village Center Town Hall: Available Works, art viewing & sales
Daily 11-5pm EST

May 11-15 Plein Air Classics, an exhibit of private collection paintings, Gulf County TDC Welcome Center, Daily 9-5pm EST

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

May 9

SUMMER DREAM Porch Picnic, Home Tour, and Free Stay Giveaway!! Enter to win a two-night stay in Summer Dream! Visit us in WindMark Beach between 1-5pm EST before attending WindMark Beach's opening reception at 6pm. All visitors to SUMMER DREAM Porch Picnic and Open House may enter our drawing to win a two-night stay.

May 8

Dual Opening Receptions, meet the artists, event organizers and patrons: In the
West at the WindMark Village Center, In the East at SummerCamp, both 6-8 pm EST

May 9

Reid Avenue Quickdraw, artists from the region capture Port St. Joe in the Plein
Air tradition, children's art project and music, 10-4pm EST. More information and
application.

May 12

Student Art Day, Maddox Park, lunch follows at the Gulf County TDC Welcome
Center, Port St. Joe, 10-1pm EST

May 13

Art Tete-e-tete & Wine Tasting, artist reception, Prickly Pears, Mexico
Beach, 5-7pm CST

May 15

Plein Air TGIF, relax with artists overlooking St. Joe Bay, Gulf County TDC WelcomeCenter, Port St. joe, ticket required, 5:30-8:30pm EST

This is only a PARTIAL event listing for activities taking place in Port St. Joe and WindMark Beach. For a comprehensive listing of Plein Air Paintout events along the Forgotten Coast, visit PleinAirFl.com .