The twelfth 'Art in the Open' - an international plein air painting festival of paint-outs, workshops, exhibition and good company. The annual August event is open to all and attracts visitors from Europe, USA and all of Ireland to Wexford in the sunny south-east.
Hope the weather holds up, Lori. We're having the best summer in years. Temps forecast in the 80's today and all next week. But, regardless, sure there's always rissoles!
West Ireland? After the event I hope to kick around in the western part of Ireland, Dingle, Kilarney, etc., for a few days of paint. I am open to any suggestions such as where to stay places that area must see. I will be flying out of Shannon.
Oh tony, you're being modest. Spectrum Art (Tony's biz) has all sorts of great art supplies AND framing! And , you pass right by it on your way to anywhere in Wexford. Just a hop, skip, and jump from T. Morris pub, Whites Hotel, grocery, pharmacy, department stores, etc. Paint, brushes, panels, mediums, drawing supplies, books, you name it. No worries people. They think of everything at this event. And, prepare yourself for the best fish and chips... Not at the art store of course. :)
I can't wait. Have to get the suitcase down from the attic - and be a bit more organised with my framing this year. Imperial sizes and metric sizes are an important shade different to each other.
Photo of Leon Holmes and Antti Rautiola with Tony Robinson of AITO and this handsome paintiing's proud new owner.
The painting was painted collaboratively by these 2 artists during AITO'13 Quick Draw in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. The painting was auctioned on the spot and fetched €570 which the artists donated to Console suicide bereavement charity. The artists also managed to complete their own paintings during trhe 2-hour time limit.
Our Workshops are now open to allcomers without the need to partake in the exhibition/awards. There are 16 workshops with 9 internationally renowned plein air artists. They are filling up fast; don't be disappointed. See list of workshops here: List of Workshops Book here: Workshop Booking
We are looking for 10 volunteer artists to help out at the Festival for a minimum of two days. You will have to find your own accommodation but in return you will get: - Bus travel to each venue - Lunch each day on your volunteer days - Sit in on workshop of your choice on your volunteer days - Barbeque at T. Morris - Festival dinner at Riverbank House Hotel
Hi Kevin, I would be interested in volunteering to help at the upcoming festival but I am not sure what it entails. Maybe you could let me know. Deirdre
Art in the Open Festival is seeking volunteers for our annual Plein Air festival throughout County Wexford. Perhaps you, your partner/mother/uncle/friend etc. might like to get involved in one of Ireland's friendliest and unusual festivals?
Volunteer tasks include assisting with registration and check-in, helping at workshops and demonstrations. Volunteers will be required to attend the daily paint-out locations to assist the committee and are requested to help with the Saturday Charity Quick Draw in Wexford town. Transport & lunch is provided and volunteers can enjoy the workshop/demo after checking in the participants. Volunteers will also be invited to the BBQ at T.Morris. If you’re interested contact Alma at info@artintheopen.org. You can volunteer for just one day or several days throughout the week….come along, bring a friend, meet and interact with the artists, it’s great fun! Festival Dates: July 27 – August 3rd
Hey great news, looks like lots of artists would like to be involved in the planning and marketing of next year's art in the open! !
Let's have an open forum for all in the town to be involved!!
Lighten the load guys plus some REAL marketing of sales.
Would love to see a general meeting for ALL who would like their voice included in the festival. Let's get started for 2016!! Hey and remember it's supposed to be about ART not tourism lol
One marketing guy expresed this sentence to me "about 20to 40k people plus saw that gigantic poster on the bridge !! But it NEVER said ART FOR SALE or where and when" have to agree with him!
Leon was invited to submit his impressions of AITO'15 to Plein Air Magazine. I know the festival organisers had been looking to get coverage in this publication and are very pleased with this article which is a very favourable and enthusiastic one. It is framed as 'my personal impressions' which is how the magazine wanted it and of course, he was chosen having visited the USA this year at his own expense and met the publishers at the Plein Air Convention in Monterey. Lori Putnam wrote a similar 'Irish diary' account about 3 years ago.
I don't think it is appropriate to publicly criticise a fellow artist and especially to use this forum to perpetuate any difference you may have and I sincerely hope the next time you and Leon shake hands on it, it will be an end of the matter.
Very good description by Bob Bahr of Leon's trip to the festival!! Shows the event in a very good light I think!!
The article also does a good job of keeping expectations of selling, realistic, for any of our future American participants, as it IS quite an expensive trip for anyone from afar. However it's a great way for visitors to spend part of an already planned vacation, in my opinion.
Hi , I just go to a local newspaper store, purchase a 5Euro phone card and ask the clerk to circle the code I should dial when I make my calls...I use my hotel phone and the code on my Phone card (that I just purchased, and you can talk for hours, or use to make lots of calls. Very easy, just need to punch in a bunch of numbers, well worth it, or put the free Viber App in your smart phone to text call and send photos free to any friend or family member who also installs the free app
I've news of a 3 double bedroom accommodation in Wexford Town plus a 2 person and a 4 person accommodation out of town, Priority will be given to groups of persons to fill the accommodation and staying for the whole festival. Message me if you fit the bill and are seeking somewhere to stay.
Sorry I haven't posted before now. I tried posting pictures but they came out squashed so I deleted them.
I CAN'T BELIEVE I WON THE MAYORAL PRIZE!!!!!!!!!!
Haven't come down to earth yet. Drove home on Monday evening, and was out to my usual life drawing session on Tuesday morning. I hadn't unpacked my art back, so everything was still soaked from the wet in the Heritage Centre.
It was a wonderful week before I got that huge surprise - which knocked the wind out of me temporarily. I loved the paint outs, and the weather was kind most days. There was a beautiful harbour down the dirt track at the end of my cul-de-sac. Wonderful painting without even going into the car. I think that Maike did eight paintings there. We are booking an apartment there next year too.
A HUGE thank you to the committee, the volunteers, Trish & Tony, and everyone else who contributed time and sponsorship.
Wexford people are brilliant (and my Mum was from Bunclody).
I made an enquiry about the best way to travel, and within 24 they not only replied, they'd cc'd my email to an artist I've met at AITO, who offered to pick me up and ferry me around. Flight to Stanstead, and local bus to Ipswitch. Can't wait.
Lori Putnam
Jul 7, 2013
Michael McGuire
Hope the weather holds up, Lori. We're having the best summer in years. Temps forecast in the 80's today and all next week. But, regardless, sure there's always rissoles!
Jul 7, 2013
Lori Putnam
Jul 7, 2013
Billyo O'Donnell
West Ireland? After the event I hope to kick around in the western part of Ireland, Dingle, Kilarney, etc., for a few days of paint. I am open to any suggestions such as where to stay places that area must see. I will be flying out of Shannon.
Jul 10, 2013
Lynda Moore
I recently posted on the Yanks site that I need a phone while in Ireland, any know where I can pick on up?
Jul 19, 2013
Lynda Moore
Jul 19, 2013
Michael McGuire
Yes, there is a large Tesco store in Wexford.
Jul 19, 2013
Lynda Moore
Jul 19, 2013
Michael McGuire
It's probably no more than a ten minute walk from there, Lynda.
Jul 19, 2013
Lynda Moore
Jul 19, 2013
Billyo O'Donnell
Does anyone have an idea how much the disposable phones cost?
Jul 19, 2013
Lori Putnam
Just enjoy the painting... who needs a phone? You can find out anything you need at T Moores every night. :)
Jul 19, 2013
Michael McGuire
I'm not sure, but as far as I know it works out a lot cheaper than using a US cell phone, but as Lori says you'll find out in the pub!
Jul 19, 2013
Lize Human
Hope it helps!
Jul 19, 2013
Plein Eire Administrator
Mmmm....disposable phones...lovely!
Jul 20, 2013
Billyo O'Donnell
Pub it is then. Now where is the best place to fine odorless mineral spirits?
Jul 20, 2013
Valerie Syms Martin
I think Tony has Sansoder.
Jul 20, 2013
Plein Eire Administrator
Spectrum will have plenty of spirits and will open early on Monday 29th July for anyone catching the bus or making their own way to Carne Beach.
Jul 20, 2013
Lori Putnam
Jul 20, 2013
Valerie Syms Martin
I can't wait. Have to get the suitcase down from the attic - and be a bit more organised with my framing this year. Imperial sizes and metric sizes are an important shade different to each other.
Jul 20, 2013
Lori Putnam
Jul 20, 2013
Plein Eire Administrator
Just another festival - and we've got the photos to prove it:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/artintheopen#nosidebar
Aug 6, 2013
Plein Eire Administrator
Aug 6, 2013
Plein Eire Administrator
Some more Festival Photos from Eric Claydon:-
https://www.facebook.com/eric.claydon/media_set?set=a.5342465899636...
Aug 6, 2013
Plein Eire Administrator
http://visitwexford.wordpress.com/2013/07/30/500-paintings-to-be-cr...
Aug 6, 2013
Plein Eire Administrator
The painting was painted collaboratively by these 2 artists during AITO'13 Quick Draw in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. The painting was auctioned on the spot and fetched €570 which the artists donated to Console suicide bereavement charity. The artists also managed to complete their own paintings during trhe 2-hour time limit.
Aug 6, 2013
Plein Eire Administrator
Listen to Art in the Open in this radio podcast from RTE's Mooney Show:
http://www.rte.ie/radio/utils/radioplayer/rteradioweb.html#!rii=9%3...
- Fantastic interview with Karen Scannell, Valerie Craig, Leon Holmes and Antti Rautiola.
Aug 7, 2013
Plein Eire Administrator
A chance to win a week in 4* hotel with top artists for Art in the Open 201:- . http://pleineire.ning.com/forum/topics/win-art-in-the-open-4-hotel-...
Feb 9, 2014
Kevin Freeney
2014 WORKSHOPS NOW OPEN TO ALL...
Our Workshops are now open to allcomers without the need to partake in the exhibition/awards.
There are 16 workshops with 9 internationally renowned plein air artists. They are filling up fast; don't be disappointed.
See list of workshops here: List of Workshops
Book here: Workshop Booking
Jun 25, 2014
Kevin Freeney
VoluntEire
We are looking for 10 volunteer artists to help out at the Festival for a minimum of two days. You will have to find your own accommodation but in return you will get:
- Bus travel to each venue
- Lunch each day on your volunteer days
- Sit in on workshop of your choice on your volunteer days
- Barbeque at T. Morris
- Festival dinner at Riverbank House Hotel
Leave a reply here or email info@artintheopen.org
Jun 25, 2014
Deirdre Furlong
Hi Kevin, I would be interested in volunteering to help at the upcoming festival but I am not sure what it entails. Maybe you could let me know. Deirdre
Jul 17, 2014
Plein Eire Administrator
Art in the Open Festival is seeking volunteers for our annual Plein Air festival throughout County Wexford. Perhaps you, your partner/mother/uncle/friend etc. might like to get involved in one of Ireland's friendliest and unusual festivals?
Volunteer tasks include assisting with registration and check-in, helping at workshops and demonstrations. Volunteers will be required to attend the daily paint-out locations to assist the committee and are requested to help with the Saturday Charity Quick Draw in Wexford town.
Transport & lunch is provided and volunteers can enjoy the workshop/demo after checking in the participants. Volunteers will also be invited to the BBQ at T.Morris.
If you’re interested contact Alma at info@artintheopen.org.
You can volunteer for just one day or several days throughout the week….come along, bring a friend, meet and interact with the artists, it’s great fun!
Festival Dates: July 27 – August 3rd
May 8, 2015
Kevin Freeney
Places still available for Leon Holmes' workshop in New Ross http://www.artintheopen.org/workshops.html#holme
Jul 11, 2015
Louise Treacy
Let's have an open forum for all in the town to be involved!!
Lighten the load guys plus some REAL marketing of sales.
Would love to see a general meeting for ALL who would like their voice included in the festival. Let's get started for 2016!! Hey and remember it's supposed to be about ART not tourism lol
Aug 11, 2015
Louise Treacy
Aug 11, 2015
Louise Treacy
Aug 11, 2015
Louise Treacy
Aug 11, 2015
Tony Robinson
Well written review describing his impressions of the 2015 festival by visiting artist Leon Holmes: http://www.pleinaircollector.com/What-s-a-Plein-Air-Event-Like-in-I...
Aug 14, 2015
Tony Robinson
Glad you liked the festival, too, Rene.
Leon was invited to submit his impressions of AITO'15 to Plein Air Magazine. I know the festival organisers had been looking to get coverage in this publication and are very pleased with this article which is a very favourable and enthusiastic one. It is framed as 'my personal impressions' which is how the magazine wanted it and of course, he was chosen having visited the USA this year at his own expense and met the publishers at the Plein Air Convention in Monterey. Lori Putnam wrote a similar 'Irish diary' account about 3 years ago.
I don't think it is appropriate to publicly criticise a fellow artist and especially to use this forum to perpetuate any difference you may have and I sincerely hope the next time you and Leon shake hands on it, it will be an end of the matter.
Aug 17, 2015
Louise Treacy
The article also does a good job of keeping expectations of selling, realistic, for any of our future American participants, as it IS quite an expensive trip for anyone from afar. However it's a great way for visitors to spend part of an already planned vacation, in my opinion.
Aug 19, 2015
Jeanne Salucci
Hi , I just go to a local newspaper store, purchase a 5Euro phone card and ask the clerk to circle the code I should dial when I make my calls...I use my hotel phone and the code on my Phone card (that I just purchased, and you can talk for hours, or use to make lots of calls. Very easy, just need to punch in a bunch of numbers, well worth it, or put the free Viber App in your smart phone to text call and send photos free to any friend or family member who also installs the free app
Jan 18, 2016
Plein Eire Administrator
I've news of a 3 double bedroom accommodation in Wexford Town plus a 2 person and a 4 person accommodation out of town, Priority will be given to groups of persons to fill the accommodation and staying for the whole festival. Message me if you fit the bill and are seeking somewhere to stay.
Jun 15, 2016
Norah Blount
I got great value b/b for mon to fri but none for the weekend - on booking.com, 55 euro per night
Jun 15, 2016
Plein Eire Administrator
Back to a semblance of normality after a hectic festival. Any comments from those who attended?
Aug 5, 2016
Louise Treacy
Aug 5, 2016
Valerie Syms Martin
Exhilarated.com
Sorry I haven't posted before now. I tried posting pictures but they came out squashed so I deleted them.
I CAN'T BELIEVE I WON THE MAYORAL PRIZE!!!!!!!!!!
Haven't come down to earth yet. Drove home on Monday evening, and was out to my usual life drawing session on Tuesday morning. I hadn't unpacked my art back, so everything was still soaked from the wet in the Heritage Centre.
It was a wonderful week before I got that huge surprise - which knocked the wind out of me temporarily. I loved the paint outs, and the weather was kind most days. There was a beautiful harbour down the dirt track at the end of my cul-de-sac. Wonderful painting without even going into the car. I think that Maike did eight paintings there. We are booking an apartment there next year too.
A HUGE thank you to the committee, the volunteers, Trish & Tony, and everyone else who contributed time and sponsorship.
Wexford people are brilliant (and my Mum was from Bunclody).
Aug 5, 2016
anna d hurley
Had a wonderful time and many thanks to all the organizers for their hard work. Got the usual cold when I arrived back. Now to clear up the car.
Aug 5, 2016
Michael McGuire
Just wanted to say congrats again, Valerie. It was great having you out to ours for vino and nibbles - glad the rabbits didn't get the food!
Aug 5, 2016
Valerie Syms Martin
Thanks to you, Michael, and Helen, for a wonderful evening.
I'm so jealous of your studio!
Aug 5, 2016
Valerie Syms Martin
I'm going to a Brush with the Broads!
I made an enquiry about the best way to travel, and within 24 they not only replied, they'd cc'd my email to an artist I've met at AITO, who offered to pick me up and ferry me around. Flight to Stanstead, and local bus to Ipswitch. Can't wait.
http://abrushwiththebroads.co.uk/
Aug 6, 2016