7th annual Quinte en Plein Air Festival

Quinte en Plein Air

350 canvases on display at 2019 Student en Plein Air Art Show

By Fiona Campbell Painting from life is an essential way to learn how to “see” as an artist: directly connected with your subject, you can capture its subtleties and nuances in light, texture, colour and form. Painting from life while in a landscape heightens the opportunity — and the challenge.

Popularized by the Impressionists Claude Monet and PierreAuguste Renoit, who took their paints and easels outdoors to capture life outside their studio, plein air painting, or painting in the open air, requires the artist to work quickly, simply and accurately, while depicting the details — and emotion — of scenery.

This is the 7th year for the QAC’s annual en Plein Air Painting Festival; an event that creates experiences for artists to work outside while capturing changing light, forms and colours. During this four-day festival and juried competition, artists leave their studios behind to paint the iconic images that make Belleville unique: historic downtown, the shores of the Bay of Quinte, the famous “Old East Hill,” the Moira River, and more. The rules of the festival require artists to be fully self-sufficient, paint only on-site, rain or shine, starting with a blank canvas. an experience for visitors to see artists at work and experience some of their own joy of painting (in the spirit of Bob Ross!) putting a creative twist on the traditional plein air festival, while bringing together artists and art lovers.

Arts and culture plays an important role in defining who we are as a community and contributes to a healthy local economy and lifestyle for those who live and work in the area. The Plein Air Festival offers both an intimate experience and a connection to place. Our goal is to make the annual Quinte en Plein Air Festival a destination for both artists and visitors to the area; a means to discover all the rich arts and culture experiences the Bay of Quinte has to offer.

Registration is now open and early bird pricing ends April 24. Prizes total over $4,000 and this year we are introducing category prizes: for example, best streetscape, downtown building, or waterfront.

Visit quinteartscouncil.org/pleinair2020 for more information, updates or to register. Email communications@ quinteartscouncil.org to be added to our mailing list

Painting the North Front Street Bridge, Belleville. 2014 Festival