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Coined for its relationship to nature, en plein air painting requires the painter to develop a connection to nature by infusing the sights and sounds being absorbed by their senses, to the canvas.
“Plein air painting simply means painting outdoors. It is observable reality. It allows the artist to truly capture nature as it was intended, as you stand before it, not by looking at a photograph,” says John Ebersberger, a founding member and artist of Paint Annapolis and Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association (MAPAPA).
With its strong linearity, eathtaking views, and heavy reliance upon history, Annapolis is a plein air artist's dream subject. Each year an event is held that incorporates the beauty of Annapolis with the naturalistic painting style. Paint Annapolis 2011 is an en plein air painting competition, hosted by both the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts and MAPAPA, along with several sponsors. Paint Annapolis 2011 will cele ate its 10th anniversary as a long-standing city wide tradition from September 28th to October 2nd.
“Paint Annapolis began in 2002, when Lee Boynton called local artists and friends, myself and John Ebersberger included, and pitched the idea of a one-day event to paint Annapolis,” says Sharon Littig, a founding member of MAPAPA and Paint Annapolis. “When it all began it wasn't juried, there was no limit to the number of paintings you could submit, and over 200 people showed up. It was such a success that we continued holding the event each year, and for the first five years I coordinated the event.”
Juror Nicholas Evans-Cato, an instructor at the Rhode Island School of Design, will select 40 artists and five alternates to compete in this year's competition. The selected artists will arrive to Annapolis on September 28th and will begin painting on September 29th until October 1st. These three days will be designated painting days, where artists will be instructed to paint in specified areas across Annapolis. In order to compete, artists must turn in two completed and framed artworks to Maryland Hall on the morning of October 2nd. All work must be done “en plein air” on designated painting days, without any assistance from photographs. All artwork will be for sale and on exhibit in Maryland Hall's two galleries from October 2–30.
“Paint Annapolis became a catalyst for en plein air events in the region,” says Littig. “Now there are en plein air events all across Maryland from Havre de Grace to Grasonville, but it all started here in Annapolis.”
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Honorable Mention, “Last Roses of Summer,” by Leslie Belloso, oil
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