Plein Air Vacation

KatPaints wrote

on 9 Mar 2011 7:55 PM

Occasionally I stumble across announcements for plein air workshops in beautiful locations inside and outside of the US. I'd love to paint in these areas, but not alone. Also, I do not want to take a workshop that offers instruction require a payment to paint either. I just want to paint for say a week. I have a plein air partner for local painting, but eventually I'd like to give one of those beautiful locations a try. I recall seeing an internet post of several well-known male artists taking a painting trip to Mexico. Great idea, but these are all full-time artists. What do you think would be a good way to approach finding someone or a small group to paint with in one of these locations? Any traveling plein air clubs?

Jay Babina wrote

on 18 Mar 2011 7:24 AM

Depending on where you live, you need to join art societies / clubs or.. start one. How? make a simple flyer and post it at libraries, galleries, art stores and places where artist would go. In CT where I live, there are art societies everywhere. It seems every town has one. Check community centers where lesson are given and often there are art groups there too.

Traveling and painting is about money and being able to afford it. If that's wasn't the case, I would be away right now. Yes, as you say, most advertised trips offer instruction because the instructor / leader makes money and often gets free accommodations for setting up the deal. I don't think what you're asking is hard to do but like most things it just takes someone to want it enough to start putting a little work into it. I think you'll find it easier than you imagine to get a group together. Getting people with enough extra money is another thing. The lest that can happen is that you get a large plein air group together and then that will be a lot of fun too.  Sometimes a day's car tip to a new and exciting painting location and a few nights at a motel is nice too. Good luck with it.

KatPaints wrote

on 19 Mar 2011 5:12 PM

Thanks, I have no problem locally. I didn't find a group so I found a plein air partner. I later found a group which is further south to me, but I'm a bit concerned that it's more social than serious artists.  Eventually, if I find myself wanting to pursue this idea of painting out-of-state I may need to do something online. I was just wondering if some sort of data base already exists. Is there a national plein air group website that has links to state and local group websites? It would be nice if local plein air groups would post dates and locations of local paintouts and invite people from other states to join them. A week long paintout will take more planning. One idea I have is to attend a plein air festival that way I will be in a desirable area with other people. Eventually I'd like to do Carmel. Is there a listing of plein air events - large and small?

Jay Babina wrote

on 20 Mar 2011 7:53 AM

You didn't say where you're from but here's a list of some state-wide plein air organizations.

http://paintouts.com/state-plein-air-organizations.html

KatPaints wrote

on 20 Mar 2011 4:45 PM

Thanks, I'm from Northern Ohio. I already contacted OPS last year and there was no one up north so that's why I found a plein air partner. OPS suggested I start a northern "chapter" but I'm not sure if I'm ready for the responsibility considering my work schedule and all that is going on in my life maybe some time in the future. I will check out other states and maybe I could piggy back a vacation with a plein air paint out. I just learned that Carmel is juried so that's something to keep in mind if someone reading this is interested in this route. I realized I need to plan many months in advance.

Has anyone been to a paint out? What happens? I heard that artists have this event down to a system with frames in hand.

KatPaints wrote

on 20 Mar 2011 5:17 PM

Jay, I think you offered the best link so far. Edit: Yes Jay, your link is just what I need. thanks

I also found this group http://www.p-a-p-a.com/information/aboutpapa

Here's their membership policy

"Signature Membership in the Plein-Air Painters of America recognizes superiority in the technique of painting on location and honors the individual artist's professional standing in the arts community. Applications for joining PAPA as a Signature Member or as a Guest Artist in PAPA exhibitions are made by invitation. Unsolicited submissions for Signature Membership or Guest Artist status are not being considered at this time."

 "Unsolicited submissions for ... membership.....are not being considered at this time." Groups like Society of Children's Book Illustrators and Writers or many graphic arts group have associate membership or student level of membership, etc. For instance SCBWI only offers full membership to people who have been published because the group is filled with many who are simply interested in the group as a hobby, social group, or retirement activity. It seems less exclusive but is very organized nationally,

It seems as if a National (inclusive) group is in need. OR IS THERE ONE and I'm just not finding it. It would be great if there was a national group with state chapters. Full membership can be awarded by jury but yet have opportunities available for people who do this as a hobby. People can simply make arrangements with other state chapters to join their paintouts. This is too big of an idea for my britches --any takers or does this already exist?

Here's another using the "america" wording http://www.pleinairfl.com/index.cfm/m/3/ but it's local. Hmm anyone with some money and extra time? Here's a profitable business idea or at least a non-profit idea.

_________

I also found this http://www.passportandpalette.com/Park_Paint-Outs.htm I love the name Passport and Palette. I guess some are paid events, but there is one free paintout which has yet to be announced.

Kay Zimmerman wrote

on 20 Mar 2011 9:46 PM

There is a Plein Air Magazine which might help. It does advertise a plein air convention and expo in Las Vegas April 12 - 15, 2012. 

KatPaints wrote

on 21 Mar 2011 4:53 AM

Thanks Kay, I'll check it out.

Jay Babina wrote

on 21 Mar 2011 6:00 AM

I think you hit on a lot of realities. I know I'm going to step on some toes here but: a lot of these groups are self promotion groups and that's exactly why they are "not taking any submission at this time?. You're right in that there's a need for networking that just promotes the interest in outside painting and just doing that and sharing it with others. No doubt, we would all like to sell work but there's no reason that a core listing of pure intention plein air painting groups could be started. No entree fees, no (paid for) instruction and no juried anything. A social network of plein air events and groups. There's nothing wrong with having a show later with commissions to the sponsors.

KatPaints wrote

on 21 Mar 2011 4:20 PM

No toes stepped on here. I think as artists we tend to be lone wolves, but I've learned it's good to interact. I think in time something like this will come about. Even some of these other groups I've mentioned have links to individual artists' websites and there is no reason an art director cannot use this as search for new talent. This can be done for plein air painters. I guess I am talking about a non-profit group afterall. The link you sent has potential for growth too.

Thanks again for the link. I think what I can do is if I do decide I want to paint somewhere in particular I can contact groups from the local area and see if they have any plans. Anyway, it looks like I'll need to do some legwork.

Kay Zimmerman wrote

on 21 Mar 2011 5:43 PM

Kat - I know you are talking about finished fine art paintings but there is a plein air sketching group online that is worldwide. It is www.urbansketchers.org. They have the different groups listed along the side of the pictures and you can contact them to get someone in a different location to paint with you. They have what they call sketchcrawls that you can attend. If you are ever near Ponder, TX, I would be glad to go out with you. 

KatPaints wrote

on 21 Mar 2011 6:48 PM

Thanks Kay, I'll check them out. You reminded me (I don't know why) but there is an online group that uses the google streetmap to do virtual plein air. You know how the satellite view can put you on the street anywhere in the world? Well that's what they do and then they post their work online. Who would've thunk that!

Plein Air Paddy wrote

on 25 Mar 2011 5:55 AM

There is an open ( unjuried ) event in Wexford, Ireland in July called Art in the Open. It is advertised in the Plein Air magazine mentioned. The festival has a website, www.artintheopen.org and a community website, called Plein Eire ( google it ). There are also some summer events in Holland like Noordwijk  although I believe that is juried now.

Another source is PleinAirArtists, a big site with lots of contacts and plein air events listed.

Best of luck.

Jay Babina wrote

on 25 Mar 2011 6:55 AM

Here's the address on the plein air artist site.

http://pleinairartists.ning.com

KatPaints wrote

on 25 Mar 2011 4:38 PM

Wow! I better get painting! Ireland! Holland! I didn't even think outside the US for plein air events. Thanks. I need to start thinking bigger!

Thanks again Jay

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