No dampened spirits

Despite gloomy skies and spurts of rain, the 11th annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational, hosted by the Laguna Plein Air Painters Assn. and Laguna Art Museum, has seen a successful week for its 50 noted artists, who will present their paintings at a public exhibition and sale at Sunday’s closing soiree.

Forty artists were chosen to return based on past participation and their sales, while 10 new artists, including the first place winner of the association’s Best of Plein Air show, Erich Neubert, were also invited to partake in the prestigious event.

Rosemary Swimm, a representative for the association, said the weather did not interfere with the production of great art.

“With a plein air event, weather always has some effect on the artists,” she said. “This year’s [participants] have been coping very well, and we had studio sessions set up at the museum with still life studies and a model for artists who wanted to get out of the rain.

“We are, however, looking forward to a sunny weekend.”

Today, artists will enjoy their last day of painting on the beaches and throughout Laguna’s canyons and city streets, at the end of which each artist will choose three paintings from among their week’s works to be hung in the Collectors’ Soiree and Sale at the Museum.

A Quick Draw will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday in Heisler Park, where artists will have only two hours to complete a work of art in front of hundreds of onlookers. The pieces created during this time will be sold in a silent auction at the museum immediately following.

The Collectors’ Soiree and Sale and Trust Your Plein Sight event will be at 6 p.m., where signed, 8 x 10 paintings of Treasure Island Park that artists painted earlier in the week will be sold for $300. Sales are limited to one piece.

Collectors can mingle over cocktails, gourmet food and live music by the Jesse Hughes Jazz Group. Awards including Artist’s Choice, Collector’s Choice and the Edward H. Boseker Award will also be presented.

The museum will offer free admission from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, when the public will have an opportunity to browse and purchase paintings. The painters will replace works that sold during the Soiree with other paintings.

Rick Delanty, a second-year participant from San Clemente who is known for his acrylic and watercolor paintings of landscapes, seascapes and historical subjects, said he felt fortunate to be selected to paint with artists of this caliber, and to paint in such an inspiring setting.

“Laguna and the coastal towns nearby are beautiful places to paint any time of year,” he said. “As a painter of both coast and wilderness, I am inspired by the color, textures and pristine quality of the Laguna Coast.

“Plein air painting is both challenging and rewarding; I always learn something about nature, myself, the [tools] with which I am working, and I enjoy taking the images from these experiences and sharing them with others.”

New artist Michael Alten, who works primarily with oils on canvas, said this week has been both fun and challenging.

“The weather hasn’t cooperated very well, and I’ve been a bit overwhelmed since this is my first time,” he said. “Everyone has been very nice, supportive and helpful, and I am so grateful for this opportunity and honored to be painting among some of the best artists living today.”

Tickets for the Collectors’ Soirée and Sale are $125 for museum members and $150 for non-members. To buy tickets, call (949) 494.8971 ext. 203 or visit www.lagunaartmuseum.org.