Artists are literally painting the town from April 21-27 during Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens' annual outdoor art event. Photos by: Jim Carchidi
Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens is presenting its week-long festival of outdoor painting that also represents its largest yearly fundraiser. The 16th Annual Winter Park Paint Out, April 21-27, hosts gatherings, demonstrations, and free admission throughout the seven-day event.
A total of 24 professional artists set up their easels in the sculpture gardens and around city to capture landscapes “en plein air” – a style that incorporates only natural light and represents colors exactly as they appear. Paintings are displayed as soon as they are dropped off at the museum gallery, and all work created during the week will be available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds going to support the Museum.
“A typical art festival will display works that the artists have accumulated,” said event co-chair Hal Stringer. “But the Paint Out builds interest over the course of the event; the public can witness works in progress, the gallery fills as artists bring back new pieces, and it becomes a community event.”
The event is scheduled during the last week of April to avoid conflicts with other plein air festivals, and the roster includes invited artists and those chosen from an open juried call. Locals play a part in the event production as several museum patrons offer to host artists coming in from out of town.
“It’s such a help and the hosts are wonderful,” said participating artist Chris Kling of the volunteer program. Kling, who resides in Stuart, was enjoying her first Paint Out event. “The house is close to the museum and there are a lot of picturesque spots in between.”
Each year, admission to the museum is free throughout the event week with a sunset paint scheduled on Wednesday and party hosted in the sculpture garden on Saturday. The artwork can also be purchased throughout the week and the event online art gallery is updated daily.
For more information on Winter Park Paint Out events and to view the online gallery of available artwork, log onto WinterParkPaintOut.org.
Morgan Samuel Price of Altamonte Springs captures a lakefront scene from the Albin Polasek sculpture gardens on Monday, April 22. Price has painted in all 16 Winter Park Paint Out events and credits the staff for their care and professionalism. “You want to work with someone who really cares about the art and the event.”Chris Kling, who resides in Stuart, enjoys her first time at Winter Park Paint Out. Friends and fellow artists recommended she participate.Kling spent the morning capturing Albin Polasek’s bronze piece, The Victorious Christ .Kling was one of several artists, including Stacy Barter of Winter Park, who painted the sculptures in the gardens.Museum patrons can engage with the artists as they work.Stephen Puttrich of Arlington Heights, IL explains his technique during a painting demonstration.Puttrich demonstrated watercolor and oil techniques, allowing the first stage of one painting to dry as he started the second piece.Meanwhile, Don Sondag, who is a senior faculty member at Crealde School of Art, is among the artists painting along Park Avenue.Sarasota-based Michelle Held (foreground) mixes colors as Cory Wright of Ana Maria Island paints the rose garden. Held focuses on capturing the shadows of the iconic peacock fountain. “I’ve never captured it from this angle, it’s something a little different for a familiar subject.”Wright adds finishing touches to the hedges by the rose garden. “It’s basically two-hours of painting,” she said of the plein air process. “You’re trying to capture what’s essential – the feeling and the light – before the light changes and you lose what you started with.”Event co-chair Hal Stringer hangs art in the museum gallery.Paint Out artists each bring one piece to start the exhibit, but will bring their paintings to the gallery each day as they are finished. Stringer estimates between 200-250 pieces will be added to the exhibit by the end of the week.
