STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

Six artists will fan out across the Wood River Valley Wednesday through Friday as part of Kneeland Gallery’ 35th annual Plein Air Exhibition.

They will conclude it with a Paint-Out in Ketchum Town Square.

The artists will be working out in nature and are happy to have passersby watch them at work and ask questions.

Lori McNee painted “Big Lost Bend” with oil on canvas.

“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, Kneeland Gallery director. “Plein air artists capture the spirit and essence of a landscape or subject by incorporating natural light, color and movement into their works.”

Participating artists this year are Steven Lee Adams, Jack Braman, Shanna Kunz, Lori McNee, Robert Moore and his son Robbie Moore.

They will paint on location from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, along Murdock Creek behind SNRA headquarters seven miles north of Ketchum.

On Thursday each artist will pick a site of their choosing and work from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Check with Kneeland Gallery at 208-726-5512 or art@kneelandgallery.com to find out the locations.

They will come together on Friday, Aug. 7, for a midday Paint-Out in Ketchum Town Square. And they will show the work they did during the week—the paint still fresh, in some cases—during Friday’s Artist Reception and Gallery Walk from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Kneeland Gallery at 4th and Leadville Avenue.