Cape Ann Plein Air Quick Draw
Highlights from today’s two-hour, on-location painting event
The Gloucester, MA, waterfront was at a high tide of artistic talent this morning at the Cape Ann Plein Air Quick Draw, where more than 100 artists were creating finished paintings within a two-hour window.
The quick draw is one of the many events of the Cape Ann Plein Air, an eight-day event in which 38 juried artists from all over the U.S. come to paint on location in Cape Ann and then present their work at a gala. Today’s event included the juried artists as well as others who enjoy making art quickly while onlookers “supervise.”
Here's how the event unfolded. All participating artists had to be within earshot of the bell at the Gloucester Maritime, which is at the center of Gloucester’s working waterfront. The location provided a lot of subject matter for the artists: schooners, fishing boats, canoes, dories, more boats, rusting and aging structures, docks, a historic house, and industrial equipment.
The painters had two hours to begin and finish their paintings, and were required to put down their brushes when the finishing bell rang. Then the paintings were judged. This year’s judge was T.M. Nicholas. As he explained, T.M. had a tough job to do, considering the high-quality of the newborn paintings. There were 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes for the juried artists, plus a couple of honrable mentions. There were also 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes for the other participating artists.
Conditions seemed perfect for painting, with full morning sun producing some splendid shadows. There was a pure joy quality to this day, being around people who appreciate art and the artists doing their thing. That said, some painters appeared at least mildly stressed by the time pressure. And so it goes with a painting contest that is one of the nation’s most popular ones.
That's a real pressure cooker event. Thanks for the sneak peak!