Where better for an outdoor painting festival than Sedona?
The area’s signature red-rock formations and sweeping vistas seem tailor-made for the style of painting known as plein air.
This type of art came about in the late 1800s, when artists began taking materials out of the studio and into the field, says Jennifer Reddington, spokeswoman for the Sedona Arts Center, which is sponsoring the festival.
“It’s an attempt to capture the whole moment on canvas – the light, color and constantly shifting shadows,” she says. “So the artists work fast (and) in a loose style. It’s a different experience, both for the artist and the collector.”
Twenty-eight artists representing seven Western states have spent the week capturing those moments, working everywhere from downtown Sedona to remote trailheads. Although most of the paintings are landscapes, some depict urban scenes. But all were painted outdoors, and quickly.
The festival, which started Monday, wraps up this weekend with several events. On Saturday, the public can watch the artists at work when they gather for a couple of hours during the Sedona Paint Out in uptown Sedona.
“It’s really interesting to watch the artists as they work almost instinctively to capture the immediacy and spontaneity of the moment,” Reddington says. “They will experience the weather, good or bad, to try to capture those fleeting shadows and light.”
The process is evident in the results.
“(Plein air) pulls you into the moment in a way that studio paintings can’t,” Reddington says.
You can mingle with the artists Saturday evening at the Patrons Gala, which features fine wine, live music and top-notch catering. The festival wraps up with a public exhibition and art sale Sunday, when the artists display and sell the results of their week’s work.
Source: John Stanley, The Arizona Republic, Oct. 27, 2006
