STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Watch artists at work today through Friday as Kneeland Gallery hosts its 31st annual Plein Air Exhibition.
Eight of the gallery’s artists will paint at various sites in the area today and Thursday. Then on Friday they will take part in a Quick Draw where they are given a limited amount of time to paint.
The paint will still be drying when they hang their new masterpieces in the gallery for Friday’s Gallery Walk, which will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
Participating artists are Steven Lee Adams, Ovanes Berberian, Jack Braman, John Horejs, Shanna Kunz, Robert Moore, Silas Thompson and Bart Walker—all of whom are represented by Kneeland Gallery.
Painters will be at Murdock Creek behind SNRA headquarters from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today—Wednesday, Aug. 3. They will paint in and around the bridge that spans the Big Wood River at the Lake Creek parking lot just north of Ketchum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday.
On Friday, Aug. 5, they will take part in a Quick Draw from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Ketchum’s Rotary Park on Warm Springs Road across from the Wood River YMCA. The artists will have 1.5 hours that day to complete a picture. Those pictures will be auctioned off in a Silent Auction during Gallery Walk.
En plein air is a French expression meaning “in the open air” and refers to the act of painting outdoors with the artist's subject in full view, said Carey Molter, the director of Kneeland Gallery.
“Plein air artists capture the spirit and essence of a landscape or subject by incorporating natural light, color and movement into their works,” she added.
Spectators are encouraged to ask questions of the painters.
“They really do love the attention,” said Molter.
And, if you happen to fall in love with a piece to add to your collection, so much the better.
“While the artwork represents a mix of subject matter and styles, all the paintings offer a true sense of place and your own meaningful remembrance of our beautiful surroundings,” said Molter.
Kneeland Gallery is at 271 First Avenue North in Ketchum.