Art in the Open _ Suggestions for improvement

[Neil O'Keeffe]

Hi Folks 

many thanks to all who participated in this years Festival. I hope you had fun and were happy with your work. Yet again the exhibition was a revelation of the latent talent and energy that is out there.

Many of you offered suggestions to make the festival more attractive and organizational hints to help make it more efficient. Each one was better that the other. Perhaps you would take some time to post them here, i'm afraid i may have forgotten some of the excellent suggestions and we would like to do our best for you all

Thanks, looking forward to hearing from you 

[Plein Eire Administrator]

One suggestion that came in on the questionnaire we handed out was to have a draw for streets - participants each get a street in Wexford to find and paint at whatever time of day, or any aspect of it they like.

I suppose there would be a separate award for this challenge. Obviously, some streets are going to be more picturesque than others and it would not be mandatory to do it.

Would you think this contrived, difficult and unfair or would you treat it as a challenge and just a bit of fun?

It is certainly a creative idea, whether it meets approval or not. Anyone with any more such as this?

[Elaine Hurst]

As someone who hasn't been there for the festival, but hopes to next summer, I'll throw in my newbie ideas. Not knowing the town, it would be fun to be given a street to go paint. It would be nice to have it as an option, not mandatory. The idea of a catalogue of the event is great. Might be pricey to print up. There are neat places online like blurb.com where you can have books made up for people to buy, but if you didn't sell enough it might be more hassle than it was worth. Unless that could be something that could be sold at some local gallery in Wexford that would help promote the festival, and plein air painting. Just some rambling thoughts.

[Norah Blount]

Just Johnstown Castle but arrived in afternoon, its a long drive from home for the weekend paint-outs but am getting out nearly every weekend - short of leave from work this year hope to get more time next year,

Karen Scannell said:

Hi Nora,
Did you get to any of the festival Paintouts in the week before and week after the festival??

[Plein Eire Administrator]

Creating opportunities for artists meet, work together and in some cases to try plein air painting for the first time as well as creating interaction between artists and public are cornerstones of Art in the Open. If we widen the area to random locations within 3 miles, how are artists to find artists and how are the public to see them working? Catriona makes this point.

Of course, that restricts the festival to an urban setting.
But within that, in Wexford and Enniscorthy there are plenty of options. For example, Redmond Park is always included, and there are gardens, and a number of urban spaces with trees, while across Wexford bridge, in Ferrybank, there is a variety of natural terrain. As for Enniscorthy, the riverbank and old mill were popular green subjects.

In addition, we held 6 days of paint-outs to a great variety of non-urban sites this year. Only 3 days of the festival were restricted to Wexford and Enniscorthy. This was a successful new departure in 2010 although not everyone took advantage of it this time around. Anyone who likes a more rural theme should consider coming along to those next year.

I like Tracy’s idea of a more pictorial map. Similarly, as Kevin Freeney points out, artists need to take the time to explore and discover new places that inspire them within the mapped area. We could encourage that perhaps by allocating certain streets or landmarks to participants for one painting following one suggestion.

If you can paint anywhere, on your own, then would not the festival just become a painting competition for prizes? I would not like it to become that. The awards should always be secondary; a bit of fun, perhaps or a reward for talent on the day but not the main purpose, which is camaraderie, learning and interaction with the public, and the fun to be had doing those things.

Please feel free to take issue with this and keep your suggestions and requests coming.

[Kevin Freeney]

Good idea, Kevin

[Elaine Hurst]

Having not been there yet, my main interest in attending next summer will be a dual one. One, to paint in Ireland, but just as important, or maybe more so, is to meet people who have like interests in plein air painting, and live in another part of the world from myself. In the end I don't really care where I'm painting, I can find interesting subjects, but it is the group interaction, and painting with other people that draws me. (no pun intended). I think also that events like this should be fun foremost, and any competition or awards should be given with that thought in mind. I would rather laugh and enjoy myself with people painting than get caught up in the seriousness of painting for an award. That is icing on the cake, or maybe the scone!

[Karen Scannell]

I agree that there is plenty of subject matter in the town for all tastes. But for those who are more interested in landscape than townscape, and would like to paint from a wider variety of landscape, perhaps the paint outs from the week before the festival, could be incorporated into the "Main Event"? To maintain the number of participants painting in the town, it could be obligatory to take part in the weekend event also..Hosts could stamp and collect paintings..
Some lovely work was done on these paint outs, and it seemed a shame that they didn't get shown .
Also, from talking to some of the participants that did all the paint outs as well as the weekend, I got the impression that they had gotten a little "burnt Out", before the festival began proper. If participants are making the effort to attend all these paint outs, why not give them the option to include a painting from one of them??

With regard to setting boundaries for each day..It's a good idea, but my artistic temperament is rebelling..I like the freedom to follow my instinct on what would make good subject matter to paint, I normally wander around until my eye catches something of interest. In one respect to be given a restriction, can have the effect of making you more creative, and force you to look again at something you would have walked past...so I'm on the fence with that one. Perhaps we could try it for one day of the festival..say the Sunday, which would concentrate the numbers and keep us all within earshot???

[Plein Eire Administrator]

Yes, it is. Much of the Art in the Open show that remains unsold is available to see or buy HERE. A telephone call and credit card are all that is needed to make a purchase.

[Neil O'Keeffe]

Hi Folks

Many thanks to everybody who posted a suggestion. There was a lot of very good ideas aired and we will be discussing them in detail when planning next years event

Till then, keep painting
Neil O'Keeffe

[Plein Eire Administrator]

The Upside of Plein Air Competition

Some would say it has no place in art. Here is an article on the competitive aspect of some painting events - maybe even the 'gentle competition' of an ordinary plein air paint-out.

[Marsha Hamby Savage]

I am home ... in Smyrna, GA ... and so missing all you guys! I just can't think at this time, but if I do, I will be back and offer any suggestions I can think of. I enjoyed the painting locations I did get to attend. I totally agree that staying in close proximity is the best for meeting the other artists and public. The optional "outer" locations is a great idea and I enjoyed painting at Kilmore Quay. Next time I hope to be there to paint in the other locations!

 

I would like to thank you so much for your hospitality and smiles .... every day, you were all so welcoming to someone that does not like to seem "needy" in any way. Your help was so appreciated. I had a blast and I met some wonderful new artist friends and hope we can all continue to stay in touch .... and I hope to be back next year and stay longer!

 

Again thank you for all your hard work.

[Terence Gillespie]

Neil,

I can't think why you may have forgotton the gems that I whispered in your ear as they called "Time" in some of the establishments of continuing education in Wexford over the weekend. I really enjoyed the festival and have already penciled it in for next year. 

1) I was at David Diaz's demo, in the rain, and found it really fascinating. I saw most of the demo (As I'm 6'4").

It really would have been better for those who  are somewhat vertically challanged  if a circle was drawn with chalk about 8 or 10 feet from the artist's easel and folks were asked to stay behind the line. Lots of other folk would have seen the inspirational demo if this had been done.

2) I went to paint-outs in Roslare Strand (Congrats to catering group for fantastic Barby) and Bunclody. In neither case did I know anything in advance about my personal catering requirements. I think it would have been very helpful if some advance guidance were given. A simple advance indication to bring a sandwich (or buy one locally) would avoid any surprises.

Again congrats to all involved. A superb weekend

Terry