En Plein Air Paint Competition
Saturday, April 22, 2023
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Location: LeFleur's Bluff State Park, 3315 Lakeland Terrace, Jackson, MS
County: Hinds
For more information please contact Jennifer Shows at 601-432-2172 or by email at jennifer.shows@wfp.ms.gov
Celebrate Earth Day by joining us at LeFleur’s Bluff State Park on April 22, 2023, for the En Plein Air Paint Competition! This event, brought to you by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) and Pacesetter Gallery, will showcase 27 well-known Mississippi artists as they paint scenes of their choosing from LeFleur’s Bluff State Park in Jackson, MS.
Schedule of Events:
Artist Check In: 9:00 a.m.
There will be a check in area designated at the entrance of the park.
Live Painting: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
We invite all to come out, enjoy the park, meet the painters, and watch as their artwork comes to life through oil, watercolor, acrylic, and pastel. Entry to the park is $2.00 per individual. We will have park maps at the check in station where visitors can find artist locations.
Judging by Bill Wilson: 2:30 p.m.
Judging will be held at the Check-In Pavilion by renown Jackson, MS artist Bill Wilson.
Wet Paint Sale by Pacesetter Gallery: 3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Are you a fan of one of the many talented artists participating in the event? Fall in love with watching a piece come to life? You will have the opportunity to purchase the artwork created at this event from the first stroke of a brush, all the way to the end of the event. Artists will have a card with the price at their station. If you see a piece you would like to purchase, simply take that card back to the Registration Pavilion. All art sales will be conducted through Pacesetter Gallery.
What is Plein Air Painting?
“En plein air” is French for “in the open air” and was popularized by the Impressionists, including artists like Vincent Van Gogh and Monet. The love of capturing the light of day has grown in popularity around the world.
From the artists:
“When “en plein air” artists are able to record places that someday may no longer be there. Artist are able to see beauty in things that most people pass by. We call it finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. Artists help people slow down and enjoy the beauty that they are missing right in front of their faces. Observers get to see the artistic process, ask questions and then they can actually take a piece of that experience home with them. It doesn’t get much better!” Artist Carol Roark is a professional plein air painter from Enid, MS, her credentials include cover artist for the Dixie National for a decade.
“Plein air artwork has a freshness that places the viewer within the scene that touches all the senses. Painting from life allows the viewer to not only see the scene, but to feel the breeze and hear the water.” Artist Karen Bennett is a professional plein air painter from Enid, MS, her work has been featured multiple times on HGTV’s Hometown.
Participating Artists:
*Artist Bios available upon request. To receive an artist bio, contact Keri Davis at Pacesetter Gallery - 601.488.0345 or keri@pacesettergallery.com
- Susan Wellington - Flowood, MS
- Karen Bennett - Kokomo, MS
- Beth Dean - Madison, MS
- Wes Arrington - Brookhaven, MS
- Linda Peters - Oxford, MS
- Feixue Yang - Madison, MS
- Wade Stephenson - Mendenhall, MS
- Carol Roark - Enid, MS
- Pam Locke - Oxford, MS
- Michael Joseph Hipps - Pearl, MS
- Michael Keen - Vancleave, MS
- Janice Kraft - Canton, MS
- Debbie Myers - Oxford, MS
- Maggie Mayer - Madison, MS
- Chris Cockrell - Pearl, MS
- Albert Smathers - Raymond, MS
- Elkie Briuer - Vicksburg, MS
- Chelsea Young - Jackson, MS
- Luce Wren Cooper - Jackson, MS
- Mike Koskie - Jackson, MS
- Ari Atarji - Brandon, MS
- Bryan Peters - Brandon, MS
- Susan Cobb - Ridgeland, MS
- Gayle Quick - Richland, MS
- Rowan Bird - Jackson, MS
- Andrew Mize - Brandon, MS
- Cindy Prince - Madison, MS
From the Hosts:
“ As an artist and fan of plein air painting I have noticed many of the general public haven’t experienced watching painters create plein air. I wanted to find a way to share this and bring recognition to these talented artists. The beauty of LeFleur’s Bluff State Park is sure to inspire some amazing pieces at the competition with wooded areas, cypress swamps, trail and lake areas to choose from,” states Keri Davis owner and artist of Pacesetter Gallery.
"We at MDWFP are so excited to host an event like the En Plein Air Paint Competition at LeFleur's Bluff State Park. We can't wait for people to get to watch as these talented artists bring a beautiful part of our state to life in such a unique way," says Jennifer Shows, Marketing Coordinator at MDWFP.
This event is sponsored by Community Bank, Neblett's Framing, Flowood Chamber of Commerce, Rooster's and Basil's Restaurants, Mississippi Foundation for Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.
