Residents and visitors will likely see an increased number of artists painting outdoors around Cape Ann, from the waterfront to back roads, as the eighth Cape Ann Plein Air festival gets under way.
The weeklong festival, which runs through Sunday, features events in all of Cape Ann’s communities for both artists and art lovers alike.
This year, 35 plein air painters are vying for more than $20,000 in prize money. They come from as near as Gloucester, Rockport and Ipswich and as far away as California, England and Nova Scotia. There were 30 artists chosen from 200 applicants, and the other five were winners from last year.
“Ours is a story of momentum,” Cape Ann Plein Air President Michael Storella said. “We created this event to bring deserved attention to Cape Ann’s natural beauty and artistic history. Bit by bit, it’s become an event loved by art lovers all over, who come here to experience all that’s great about our communities and own vibrant art scene.”
Organizers noted that of the more than 40 regional plein air festivals across the United States, Cape Ann Plein Air now ranks fifth in the nation based on the competition’s purse.
“Cape Ann Plein Air has become a nationally acclaimed public art festival by focusing on the region’s unique place as the birthplace of American plein air painting. When it began, not many people appreciated what plein air painting was all about — the idea of capturing a scene in the moment, outside a studio without help of extra tools or photographs or an indoor setting,” Cape Ann Plein Air said.
This year, an expanded schedule of events and activities, open to the public and nearly all free of charge, has been organized for the week.
There are daily demos where artists can learn about style and technique from a master artist. Artists leading the demos are Traci Thayne Corbett, Andrew Anderson-Bell, TM Nicholas, Charles Shurcliff and Rosalie Sidoti.
In the evenings, several area restaurants, including 35 Beach in Manchester-by-the-Sea and The Cut in Gloucester, will host an artist to paint while patrons dine and observe in the “Palate to Palette” events.
The Collectors’ Preview Party is a ticketed event at 6 p.m. Friday at the North Shore Arts Association in Gloucester where more than 280 paintings will be on exhibit and competing for prizes. The artworks are available for purchase, which both supports the artists and helps fund prizes for next year. The catered event will feature live music with John Jerome.
The popular Quick Draw event takes place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in downtown Manchester-by-the-Sea, where the festival artists will be joined by another 100 local artists to complete a painting in two hours. The paintings will then be judged for prizes and offered for sale. The event is free to the public.
Also Saturday, there will be a Kids Plein Air Paint Out from 10 a.m. to noon at Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library. and the North Shore Arts Association gallery will be open all day..
On Sunday, the sale will continue until 3 p.m. with Events Judge Lori Putnam sharing her process of choosing top winners and awards during a Gallery Walk and Talk at 10 a.m.
Also Sunday, is “Tiny Gems: Small Painting Sunday & Open Gallery Sale” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Event details and the full schedule may be found at www.capeannpleinair.org.
Gail McCarthy may be contacted at 978-675-2706, or gmccarthy@northofboston.com.