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The PLEIN AIR CONNECTION  June 7th, 2015

"Maple Sugaring" a watercolor 20 x 26 inhes by Michael E. Vermette 

 This painting has been recently accepted into the 2015 New England Watercolor Society's 

 Regional Exhibition at the Chatham, MA Creative Arts Center, Making me a new Signature Member!

Welcome to all of those who have recently sign up to receive the Plein Air News Letter. The Plein Air Connection is a generous group of artists who believe that drawing and painting on location is a spiritual practice of faith as much as it is a matter of learning from nature. It is not cheap, it comes with a price, but it is  absolutely free of charge to participate.  It is the open-minded study of visual order on the inside, not the outside of nature. It is a greatness that comes through the influence of the art spirit entering into the very life of the painter; and the outdoors is the setting where we engage. Painting like a find, the Spirit of an idea possesses us as we discover the hidden meaning in each location. This is at the heart of making beautiful paintings that not only impact our world but can produce positive change. 

  This kind of painting creates its own health benefit and market, not the market or health creating the work.  We are not interested in art as a means of making a living as much as we are interested in art as a means of living a life. Plein-Air Paint-outs, Festivals, wet paint auctions, and fundraisers are all examples of how the tangible beauty in the work can inform and awaken our world. So the journey to become a skilled plein air painter is grounded in identifying what the Spirit has prepared for us on location as a subject idea.  Then studying nature first hand, we capture by responding to the true essence of color, light, shade, and shape to bring a new living picture about. Many artists paint studies and sketches on location and use them for references for larger studio works, a tradition that has been passed down from great painters as Frederick Church, John Constable, Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Marsden Hartley, James Fitzgerald, and many painters today. It is considered an important discipline for figurative Painters to master as well.

The following listing are the plein air retreats, wet paint auctions, festivals and art sales that the Plein Air Connection is involved with this summer and into the early Fall. We will reconvene for a book study again in the Fall. And we will also meet in between each one of these listed events as we decide each week among the group where we will paint.

The Swans Island Plein Air Retreat, June 19th -21st.

Our next series of paint-outs will be on Swans Island.  The Swans Island retreat will be based at the Carrying Place on Swans Island where we will meet each night to discuss where we will be painting on the next day. The cottage is currently full up, but all are invited to paint with us for the day. The painters will be on their own each day and coordinate by car pooling where and which location they would like to paint at a campfire each night at the Carrying Place. We would love for anyone who would like to join us to please do so for the day, but you will have to make your own lodging arrangements if you plan to stay overnight or for the whole weekend. To find out the Swans Island Ferry schedule click here.

The Monhegan Island Retreat, July 4th -July 11th.

The Monhegan Island retreat weekend will be an exciting week. Many of our fellow plein air painters will be painting on the island at this time and staying at different cottages. I believe there are four cottages full of painters and they are full up. But you can come out for the day and we would love to have you paint with us. For an overnight stay you might still be able to get a reservation at the Trailing Yew, Monhegan House or the Island Inn and their phone numbers is located in the Monhegan visitor's  guide.

Paint For Preservation at Cape Elizabeth CELT July 12th.

Many of Maine's finest plein air painters have been juried into this year's Paint for Preservation and live Auction in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. I am excited to once again be one of the painters as well as many other familiar names. The public is seek out the artists and join them in one of the most prestigous Art Auctions in the state. To attend the auction and get your ticket at $60.00 per person (which includes full catoring, great music and of course amazing works of freshly painted watercolors and oils to be acquired through a lively auction for a great cause) call the CELT office in Cape Elizabeth.

Paint The Peninsula at Blue Hill July 18th.

Many of or Plein Air Connection artists are participating in the Paint The Peninsula wet paint silent auction at the Blue Hill Public Library Saturday July 18th, 2015. Over 500 patrons will be attending the reception and over 100 wet paintings will be going up for sale, generating much needed funds for the library's operating budget. Plein Air Painters are asked to create paintings on location anywhere on the Blue Hill Peninsula during the morning of July 18th and to bring their completed work to the library that afternoon by 1:00 PM. All work will be displayed at the library during the reception and silent auction from 4:30 - 7 p.m. on the same day. For more information and to register contact the library at 374-5515 ext. 16 or e-mail them at [email protected] or click here. 

The Castine Plein Air Festival  July 22nd - 25th.

The third Annual Castine Plein Air Festival is quickly becoming one of the best plein air festivals in New England. I thrilled to be participating again this year as well as many other familiar names. It will begin with a cocktail reception for the artists and sponcers on July 22nd, registration is 7:30 - 8:30 am on the Castine Town Green on July 23rd, and painters paint up to 6 paintings to go on Exhibit at the Alfond Student Center at the Maine Maritime Academy. The public is welcome to attend and there will be awards announced and refreshments served. For more information please contact The Castine Plein Air Festival 2015.

Paint The Town Fresh Paint Auction in Waldoboro August 1st.

Once again the Tidemark Gallery is hosting the Paint The Town wet paint live auction on Saturday August 1st, 2015.Many of our Plein Air Connection painters will be participating this summer. It will begin with an artist registration  in the morning with a complementary breakfast and a bag lunch provided, after which each artist is sent out to the surrounding area with a map to paint a wet painting of the Waldoboro area that will go up for auction that evening. Artists may also bring a painting made before the paint day to also be included in the auction. There is still time to enter this wonderful plein air fresh paint auction; for more information please contact the Tidemark Gallery.

4-Day Paint-out at North Light Gallery in Millinocket, September 24th-27th.

The Plein Air Painters of Maine, the Plein Air Connection and the Plein Air Painters of Katahdin will be gathering for a four day paint-out that will include an exhibit and sale at the North Light Gallery. Painters will register at the North Light Gallery in Millinocket and will drop off work each day. On the last day there will be an exhibit at the gallery. For more information call 207-723-4443 or visit the North Light Gallery.

We hope all who can participate to some or all of these plein air events will be able to join us. Have a wonderful Summer and see you on the painting trail!

Michael E. Vermette

Coordinator of the Plein Air Connection