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Winter Park Paint Out Returns to Albin Polasek Museum

Jim Carchidi

Artists paint the town during the 15th Annual Winter Park Paint Out, April 23-29. Painters work throughout the city with Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens serving as their headquarters. Photos by: Jim Carchidi

Local scenery is inspiring a week of creativity as Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens celebrates the 15th Annual Winter Park Paint Out, April 23-29.

A total of 24 professional artists are setting up their easels, in the sculpture gardens and around the city, to capture landscapes “en plein air” – a painting style that uses only natural light and represents colors exactly as they appear.

According to Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens Executive Director Debbie Komanski, it is common for plein air festivals to happen in remote, rural areas; however, the patrons can’t usually get access to the artists. “As part of our festival, we host events at the museum where guests can interact with the artists,” she said.

The museum also offers free admission throughout the festival and helps attending out-of-town artist find local accommodations by connecting them with a network of volunteers willing to open their homes as hosts.

The Winter Park Scenic Boat Tour makes its rounds in the background as plein air artist Stacy Barter works in the sculpture garden at Albin Polasek Museum. Barter has participated in nearly all of the Winter Park Paint Out events.

While there is no shortage of suitable subject mater, the weather is not cooperating as rain is predicted for much of the week. But overcoming challenges is part of the creative process.

“Flowers can still pop when it’s overcast,” said Winter Park-based artist Stacy Barter as she painted in the sculpture garden on the morning of Monday, April 24. “You need to find something bright when there’s no sun.”

Barter sought out colorful plants and flowers to make up for cloudy skies on the morning of April 24.

As Barter was compensating for the lack of sunlight, fellow artist Trish Vevera was embracing it. “I came out yesterday to choose a few shaded areas,” she said as she painted a lakeside scene. “I’ve got another area picked out for when the sun is higher this afternoon, but that might not be a problem.” The prospect of painting in the rain did not dissuade her. “There are some downtown garages where I can stay under cover and get a nice view, so I might check one of those out.”

Trish Vevera of Ormond Beach prefers to use a pallet knife instead of a brush. She mixes her oil paints with cold wax to thicken them and add texture.
Vevera is inspired by impressionism and adds that style to her natural landscapes

As paintings are completed, they will be dropped off and displayed in the Albin Polasek Museum gallery. All artwork created during the week will be available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds going to support the museum.

For more information on painting demonstrations and other scheduled events, go to WinterParkPaintOut.org.

As Steve Puttrich of Arlington Heights, IL paints the tree canopy, he is also leading a painting demonstration in the sculpture garden.
“Our job as artists is not to copy what we are seeing, but to capture the spirit of the moment,” he said.
As artists complete their work, the paintings are delivered to the museum gallery.
All of the artwork created during the week will be available for purchase with a portion going to support the museum.
Robert Ross of Winter Park paints a spiderwort plant growing by a fence on Osceola Avenue.
Ross was drawn to its purple flowers, and how it was sprouting from the sidewalk by the busy road.