Yet another one-of-a-kind event is returning to Laguna Beach – the world-renowned 13th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational sponsored by the Laguna Art Museum from Oct. 9th – 16th.
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I LOVE this event – it’s an absolute kick for art lovers, even if you’re a newbie to the talented world of plein air (outdoor) painting. And frankly, there are very few places in the world that provide such an amazing canvas to these talented painters – what a great way to get out and stroll Laguna Beach while seeing painters (many of them world famous) at work, capturing Laguna’s beauty at every angle and turn.
This year, Laguna Beach’s Art Museum is expanding the week’s activities to focus on a number of environmental awareness events with a theme of “Sea, Sage and Sustainability.”
The famous outdoor start of the event – the Quick Draw Paint Out, wherein artists have just two hours to complete their first finished work of art – begins at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9. This year, the event takes place at Heisler Park, that gorgeous park expanse just north of Laguna Beach’s Main Beach.
The Laguna Beach art Museum will be doing its usual Plein Air Invitational events – a Silent Auction that begins Monday on the Quick Draw paintings done the day previously … fine art lectures … a closing day Paint Out at Crystal Cove on Thursday, Oct. 13th, and the famed Collector’s Soiree a the Museum Saturday night.
But this year, the art Museum has added a bunch of neat events to further educate and support endeavors toward both plein air painting and the overriding theme of our fragile environment.
For starters, they’re doing a cool KID’S Paint Out on Monday, Oct 10th – I can’t wait to be there with my camera for that. An environmental awareness panel discussion is planned for Monday evening, and two different hiking tours of Laguna Canyon will take place on Tuesday to watch the artists in another plein air painting event. On Wednesday, Oct. 12th, our talented Laguna College of Art & Design students get involved with a paint out of their own at Heisler Park, and Outdoor Artist Demonstrations by our Plein Air Invitational artists will offer hands-on demonstrations and mini-workshops at the Heisler Park Ampitheater.
I’ll be reminding you of these events as they come along, but just wanted to give you the initial heads up so that you reserve bits and pieces of this 7-day schedule for your own edification and enjoyment.
It’s most important, though, that you reserve your ticket for the Collector’s Soiree on Saturday, Oct. 15th – tickets are $125 for museum members, and $150 for non-members – these tickets go FAST! At this event, of course, you have the first chance to view and purchase all the finished work from the painters’ week, and there’s great live music, food and cocktails to boot.
Yes. You have the opportunity to buy any remaining pieces the following day at the Museum’s Open Public Art Show, but who wants to wait till then? At the Soiree, you’ll be able to see ALL the work from the entire week and hob-nob with your favorite artists, too.
The Laguna Beach Plein Air is a perfect depiction of what our lovely Art Colony is all about – make time in your calendar now for this memorable event.