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Cartoonist Gary Brookins, best known for his Pluggers and Shoe comics, is Plein Air Richmond's honorary blogger. He will be recounting the adventures of these 30 artists as they plaint the city June 18-24, 2018

Saturday, June 23

Saturday’s “Fast & Fresh” brought the Plein Air Richmond, 2018 artists together one last time this year with a number of local painters who gathered in Carytown for two quick hours of painting. Can Can, Weezie’s Kitchen, Mom’s Siam and the Pit and the Peel were popular locations, as well as some side streets and even alleys off Cary Street. Lots of spectators watched with fascination as plein air painters quickly turned a blank canvas into a work of art in less than two hours, all the while talking and answering questions about their art with the onlookers. As the clock expired, the paintings were displayed on the sidewalk in front of Cary Court, and our judge, famed painter Duane Keiser once again took a close look at the entries. The winners:

First Place: Patrick Saunders (Missouri) “Can Can Can”

Second Place: Nikolay Mikushkin (New York) “Mom’s Siam”

Third Place: David Finnell (Virginia) “Belmont Vista”

Plein Air Richmond, 2018, concludes with sales of art on Sunday afternoon at Brazier Gallery, 1616 W. Main Street, 12-4 pm.

June 24, 2018 0

Friday, June 22

With the paintings all hung on the walls of Brazier Gallery, judge Duane Keiser had the unenviable job of picking the winners of Plein Air Richmond, 2018 … so many beautiful paintings from 30 superb painters from across the country. In the end, after very careful consideration, Mr. Keiser presented the ribbons:

First Place: David Robbins (Virginia)

Second Place: David Lussier (New Hampshire)

Third Place: (Washington, DC)

Best Painting with an Animal: Robert Simone (Florida)

Artists’ Choice: Stewart White (Maryland)

Honorable Mention Top Honors: Beth Marchant (Virginia)

June 23, 2018 0

Thursday, June 21

So much to paint, so little time! The Plein Air Richmond 2018 artists took advantage of a mild first day of summer to begin wrapping up their week of painting … from Pony Pasture to Church Hill to Winsor Farms to downtown hotel tops to Carytown and many other beautiful places in the Capitol of the Old Dominion, dozens of paintings by some of the country’s top artists will soon be hanging in Brazier Gallery. Judging of the paintings on Friday afternoon will be by renowned Richmond painter Duane Keiser, originator of the now worldwide “painting a day” movement.

The exhibit and sale will be open to the public at Brazier Gallery, 1616 W. Main Street, Richmond, Virginia: Friday, June 22 from 8 pm til 9 pm, Saturday, June 23 from 10 am – 5 pm and Sunday, June 24 from 12 pm – 4 pm.

Plein Air Richmond is Richmond’s original outdoor painting event since 2012. Presented by Brazier Gallery to benefit the Richmond SPCA.

June 22, 2018 0

Wednesday, June 20

Only half-way through Plein Air Richmond, 2018, and the number of beautiful paintings are piling up! The James River, with its numerous bridges, spillways, rocks and boulders, continues to draw artists to its banks, proving that water and “oil” DO mix. And the oft-painted Main Street Station got a stunning paint job by Deleware artist Stacy Rogers. Wednesday also found painters in the gardens and grounds of historic Agecroft Hall and the Virginia House in the Winsor Farms area of Richmond. We can hardly wait to see what the second half brings!

June 21, 2018 0

Tuesday, June 19

Another beautiful sunrise in Richmond quickly turned from warm to hot to YEOW! Brutal heat (it was 99 around 4:30 this afternoon in the Tuckahoe area). But fortunately, late afternoon thunderstorms brought not only much needed rain, but about a 25-degree drop in temperature. The rest of the week should find diminishing temperatures each day, with Friday’s high in only the mid-70s! Nice!!

This morning, Richmond artist Beth Marchant found some colorful city houses to paint, while Canadian Michael Solovyev and his son did some watercolor painting in Carytown, a unique district near “The Fan” and the Museum District in Richmond’s west end. Carytown has an eclectic variety of shops, restaurants, businesses and, of course, the Byrd Theater. In late Summer each year, the Carytown Watermelon Festival will find more than 100,000 folks jamming the streets enjoying … well, watermelon, as well as other food, beverages, music and “sights” galore!

Elsewhere today, St. Augustine, Florida artist Charles Dickinson and former Floridian, now South Carolinian Larry Moore found refuge in some cool, green shade. And Richmond pastel artist Maria Reardon found inspiration at the Pump House, a beautiful Victorian Gothic old “castle.”