[singlepic id=478 w=320 h=240 mode=watermark float=left]Under gorgeous blue skies more than 50 artists began painting their version of Heisler Park today in Laguna Beach. It couldn’t have been a better start to the renowned Laguna Art Museum’s Plein Air Invitational.

Hundreds and hundreds of art aficionados and curious onlookers roamed Heisler’s many walkways and beachfronts to see art in progress everywhere. As you’ll see from my initial photos below, these artists are the highest-level pros in plein air artistry, and they’ve flown in from all parts of North America to be a part of this favored event. Click any of the gallery photos below to see artists such as Ken Auster, Ray Roberts, Jim Woodark, Jeff Sewell, Jill Carver, Michael Alten and Hai Ou Hon at work. [singlepic id=479 w=320 h=240 mode=watermark float=right]

The artists had just two hours to complete their first work of art, and they’ll be painting many more pieces as the week progresses. (Look for them dotting our art colony’s sidewalks, trails, downtown corridors and beachy hilltops throughout the week.) And be sure to get down to Heisler Park on Monday at 10:00 a.m. to see the first-ever Kids’ Plein Air contest.

[nggallery id=24]