Students familiar with the landscape of the Cache la Poudre River may recognize paintings by local artists on display during an on-campus exhibit and sale later this month.
The Paint the Poudre Plein Air exhibition and sale will be on display July 24 – August 24 at the Morgan Library. Colorful landscapes of the Cache la Poudre River were painted “en plain air,” or in open air, by 36 artists using oil, pastel, acrylic and watercolor techniques. The show will be open for the public during library hours and there will be an Artist’s Reception from 6 to 9pm on July 24th to which the public is invited.
This is the third year of the event, which has been organized by local artists and avid plein air painters, Marie Massey and Diane Edwards to benefit SavethePoudre.org. Part of every sale goes to support SavethePoudre.org’s work to protect and restore the Cache La Poudre River.
One of the participating artists, Mary Giacomini, who has done the event for the past three years, has volunteered to lead several “paint outs”. A paint out is a group of artists getting together to paint at a designated location. Mary has been painting plein air for more than twenty years.
“I personally really like early morning light,” Giacomini said. “With plein air, you never know what you are going to get. … Painting when you are dealing with weather and clouds and bugs, anything can happen.”
Mary led a paint out at Century Park along the Poudre River, where she painted two pieces that will be on display at the exhibition. Her work will include oil paint and pastel for this show.
“It is a fun thing when people like your art,” Giacomini said about the exhibition.
Participating artists will show their work and discuss the plein air process at the artists’ reception. Judging the entries will be Carl Judson of Judson’s Art Outfitters in LaPorte. He will also present a history of plein air painting at 5 p.m. in the Event Hall of the Morgan Library.
Best of show, first, second and third place awards will be presented at the artists’ reception. Award sponsors include Nordic Arts, Judson’s Art Outfitters, Terry Ludwig Pastels, Otteman Arts, The Pastel Society of Colorado, Mountain Whitewater Descents and more.