The Big Island Plein Air Show returns to the Wailoa Center this June.
The Big Island Plein Air Show returns to the Wailoa Center this June.
Throughout the month more than 30 artists from around Hawaii Island will fill both floors of Hilo’s Wailoa Center with impressionist paintings, created on location in Hawaii.
Plein air (French for “open air”) painting became popular in the early 19th century in both Europe and America when paint manufacturers made pre-mixed oil pigments available for the first time. At the same time, the easily transportable box easel, or pochade (quick sketch) box, was developed. Artists could finally take their work into the field with ease.
Plein air artists paint on location in natural light, working quickly to capture the essence (impression) of a scene. Depending on the light and weather, the paintings are usually done in one session.
An opening reception for the show, organized by Leslie Sears, is this evening from 5-7 p.m. at the gallery. The exhibit will be on display through June 29. Wailoa Center is free and open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. In addition to its regular hours, the Wailoa Center will also be open on Saturday with free painting demonstrations and instruction, and guided art walks through the exhibition.
Participating artists are: Christine Ahia, Scott Cahill, Lynn Capell, Thinam Carrol, Patricia Cassel, Stanley Chraminski, Phyllis Cullen, Alaina De Havilland, Gregg Durkin, Felicia Fry, Janice Gail, Jeannie Garcia, Ann Guth, Hideyo Harada, Pat Harris, Peter Heineman, Shery Henderson, Karen Jackman, Peter Jefferson, Chris Kutler, Amy Markham, Karen McGinn, Marilyn Montgomery, Gerald Murai, Lynn Nakkim, Christal Nylin, Richard Rochkovsky, Ginger Sandell, Sunny Seal, Leslie Sears, Chuck Snyder, and Robert Weiss.
Info: www.lesliesearsart.com or at www.wailoacenter.com.