Plein Air Painters Finally Paint Under a Blue Sky

Artists from near and far converged on Lancaster Ave and surrounding streets of the Upper Main Line Saturday for the final day of painting in the Plein Air Festival. The competition draws artists from the Main Line and even surrounding states who must paint scenes in one day. 

The competition began on Tuesday and wraps up with judging, awards and a new Plein Air exhibition this weekend at the Center.  The exhibition runs through June 24tth. The festival and competition get their name from a French phrase that means "in the open air."  Artists must paint outdoor scenes and must be outdoors at the scene. The competitors may not paint scenes from memory or photographs. Barb Kiwak came from Baltimore to compete. After a week of working under umbrellas in sporadic and sometimes heavy downpours Kiwak and the other competitors were enjoying Saturday morning's bright blue skies and mild temperatures.