Photo by Amy Demmer Above: Local Artist David Hahn paints boats in the Grand Marais harbor during the Quick Paint event.
If you weren’t at the Grand Marais Art Colony last weekend, you missed a fantastic exhibit of local landscape paintings by guest artists from far and wide. It was the culmination of the 7th Annual Plein Air Competition, which included a terrific week of outdoor painting and a variety of special events such as the Night Paint, guest speaker Howard Sivertson, Quick Paint, fish fry and Plein Air painting exhibition and sale.
Plein Air literally means “open air” in French, so, the whole intention of these painters was to paint, rain or shine, outside. Fortunately, artists were welcomed by ideal weather and soon, they scattered throughout the county with their easels or lap boards, expressing themselves in oil, watercolor or pastel.
The competition lasts a full week, although artists come and go as their schedules allow. There are two main categories: “Works on Paper” and “Works on Canvas,” and artists are allowed to submit two paintings per category. There are two other painting events, the Night Paint and Quick Paint, in which artists submit only one painting per category. This year, the Night Paint happened in downtown Grand Marais. Artists gathered at 9 p.m. and used only moonlight or street and business lighting to illuminate their paintings. The Quick Paint was held at the Grand Marais harbor on Thursday. It started with the sound of Neil Sherman’s air horn and ended a mere 90 minutes later to the same blast. Afterward, artists and the public mingled at a BBQ cook out hosted by the Art Colony.
Left: Neil Sherman sounds the horn for the end of the Quick Paint on Thursday evening.
Wednesday evening was highlighted by guest speaker Howard Sivertson at Betsy Bowen’s “What’s Upstairs Theatre.” Howard’s engaging presentation was a delight for the eyes and a bonus lesson in painting outdoors. He recounted stories of pulling a toboggan of art supplies and skiing into remote locations to paint, among many other fun stories. Howard Sivertson is a Cook County treasure and one of today’s master painters.
After a week of painting, artists were ready to celebrate. On Friday, the Art Colony hosted a fish fry and artist reception for the opening of the exhibition of almost 100 paintings. Each painting was unique in style and subject, but all were recognizably our backyard. It was a great opportunity to view and purchase accomplished work of local scenery.
New to the competition this year was the opportunity to obtain a purchase award. Johnson’s Foods, Lake Superior Trading Post and the Grand Marais State Bank each committed to purchase a painting before the competition even started. They were then able to view the exhibit before the opening and choose the painting of their choice.
All in all, it was an incredible event with exciting art, great energy and good times. Don’t miss the Plein Air competition events next year!
For more information visit the Art Colony’s website, www. GrandMaraisArtColony.org.
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