AWARD-WINNING ARTISTS CAPTURE BREATHTAKING LOCAL SCENERY AT LIGHTHOUSE ARTCENTER’S 11TH ANNUAL PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL MARCH 3 – 9
The festival features a Paint Out Competition, artist demonstrations, a Collectors’ Party & Sale, a Battle of the Brushes competition, workshops, and fresh art for sale
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tequesta, Fla. (January 2, 2024) – Lighthouse ArtCenter’s (LAC) 11th Annual Plein Air Festival brings together thirty-two award-winning artists to compete for over $15,000 in cash and prizes through the practice of painting “en plein air” or “in the open air.”
The festival takes place March 3 – 9, 2024. It includes free events and artist demonstrations, workshops, and hundreds of freshly painted pieces available for purchase throughout the week at Lighthouse ArtCenter Gallery at 373 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, FL 33469. A full schedule of events, demonstrations, and workshop details can be found at lighthousearts.org/pleinair.
“Our festival attracts the nation’s top Plein Air artists, who come to Palm Beach County to paint our local landscapes, coastlines, and landmarks. Their paintings capture everything from “Old Florida” found in places like Jonathon Dickinson Park and Riverbend Park to iconic landmarks such as Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse,” said Lighthouse ArtCenter’s Executive Director, Jeni Licata. “The only requirement is to paint outdoors. Plein air painting allows artists to express their creativity without constraint on subject or medium.”
Renowned artist Michele Usibelli was selected as this year’s judge. Her impressive artistic background includes exhibitions in group and solo galleries and recognition in regional, national, and international juried exhibitions and Museum Auctions. Usibelli will honor the artists with a variety of awards including Best Marine, Best Seaside, Best Architecture, Best Nocturne, and Best of South Florida.
Lighthouse ArtCenter’s 11th Annual Plein Air Festival Participating Artists:
Hector Acuna – Grafton, Wisconsin
Harsh Agrawal – London, England
Marc Anderson – Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Natalia Andreeva – Tallahassee, Florida
Pam Ayres – Tequesta, Florida
Olena Babak – Hartland, Maine
Carla Bosch – Liberty Hill, Texas
Lon Brauer – Granite City, Illinois
Carl Bretzke – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Krystal Brown – Spring, Texas
Edward Buonvecchio – Cornville, Arizona
Kathleen Denis – Palm Beach Shores, Florida
Erin Dertner – Santa Rosa, California
Lori Cusick – Dallas, Texas
Bill Farnsworth – Venice, Florida
Neal Hughes – Medford, New Jersey
Russell Jewell – Easley, South Carolina
Tim Kelly – Baltimore, Maryland
Chris Kling – Stuart, FL
Jeffrey Markowsky – Savannah, Georgia
Laura Martinez-Bianco – Marlboro, New York
Ralph Papa – Boynton Beach, Florida
Kari Ruiz – Interlaken, New York
Manon Sander – North Palm Beach, Florida
Mark Shasha – Swampscott, Massachusetts
Richard Sneary – Kansas City, Missouri
Mary Hertler Tallman – Jackson, Michigan
Lyudmila Tomova – Raleigh, North Carolina
Richie Vios – Austin, Texas
Robin Weiss – Poulsbo, Washington
Cory Wright – Palmetto, Florida
Stephen Wysocki – Armstrong Creek, Wisconsin
The festivities begin on Sunday, March 3, with a “Paint Out Competition” at Harbourside Place in Jupiter from 9 am – 1:30 pm. This fast-paced event is open to professional and amateur artists who compete for over $2,000 in cash and prizes. The public is welcome to watch as artists begin painting at the sound of an air horn and have two hours to complete their work, which is then displayed and available for sale.
March 4 – 7, the award-winning artists paint in picturesque places throughout Palm Beach and Martin Counties, capturing the beauty before them on canvas. Free artist demonstrations are open to the public. A schedule can be found at lighthousearts.org/pleinair, and real-time updates are available on Instagram @lighthouseartcenter. All paintings can be viewed and available for purchase at the Lighthouse ArtCenter Gallery throughout the week from 9 am- 6 pm.
The culmination arrives on March 8 from 5 – 8 pm with the “Collectors’ Party & Sale,” where attendees can purchase freshly painted, one-of-a-kind pieces and mingle with the artists and other art lovers while enjoying LAC’s signature hors d’ oeuvres and refreshments. The festival finale is on March 9 at LAC Gallery from 10 am – 2 pm and includes a lively “Battle of the Brushes” painting competition (10 am – 12 pm), an Awards Ceremony, and the introduction of new 8″ x 8″ small works available for sale.
Three visiting artists will offer workshops for artists looking to hone their craft. “Painting Seascapes and Waves” with Olena Babak for all skill levels (February 27 – 28 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm) focuses on painting realistic transparent water and rolling waves with oil painting through demonstrations and instruction. Carl Bretzke’s “The Golden Hour and Sunset” (March 1 & 2 from 3 – 7 pm) is for intermediate to advanced artists and teaches how to capture the late afternoon and sunset “light effects” in paint. Michele Usibelli welcomes artists of all levels to “Bringing Life and Energy to your Paintings” (March 12 – 14 from 10 am -4 pm), which focuses on the essential steps to building a successful painting through a lecture, discussions, demonstrations, and one on one instruction. Advance registration is required at lighthousearts.org.
About Lighthouse ArtCenter:
Lighthouse ArtCenter Gallery & School of Art is 501c(3) not-for-profit founded in 1964 by eight artists and Christopher Norton. The ArtCenter is dedicated to the visual arts whose mission is to inspire, engage and connect our community through a vibrant school of art, unique exhibitions and diverse special events. The center has grown into a three-building campus consisting of a Gallery & 2D Studio, 3D Studio, and a Jewelry & Textile Studio. Supported by memberships, tuition, grants, and donations, Lighthouse ArtCenter serves over 20,000 visitors, 3000 students, 45 faculty members, 400 summer art campers, and a comprehensive outreach program to benefit under-served populations. For more information visit https://www.lighthousearts.org.
Facebook: @lighthousearts.org
Instagram: @lighthouseartcenter
LIGHTHOUSE ARTCENTER GALLERY AND 2D STUDIO
373 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, FL 33469
561-746-3101
Monday-Thursday: 9 am – 5 pm
Friday: 9 am – 4 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 4 pm
Sunday: Closed
3D STUDIO
395 Seabrook Road, Tequesta, FL 33469
561-746-3101
Monday-Thursday: 9 am – 6 pm
Friday: 9 am – 4 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 4 pm
Sunday: Closed
STUDIO 385
Jewelry and Textiles
385 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, FL 33469
561-746-3101
Monday: 2-5 pm
Tuesday: 10 am-1 pm
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Calendar Listing:
March 3 – 9, 2024, Lighthouse ArtCenter (LAC) presents the 11th Annual Plein Air Festival with thirty-five award-winning artists from all over the country coming together to compete and capture local scenes through painting “en plein air” or “in the open air.” The festival includes free artist demonstrations, workshops, events, and fresh art for sale. The art will be displayed throughout the week and is available for purchase at the Lighthouse ArtCenter Gallery at 373 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, FL 33469. A list of the participating artists and a full schedule of events can be found at lighthousearts.org/pleinair.