SATURDAY, 6/23: FC Plein Air Competition, Brunch Reception, Show and Sale, 11 a.m. ArtSpace

A brunch reception will begin at 11 a.m when the doors open to the public, and the awards and winners will be announced at 12 noon.  The Show and Sale will continue until 4 pm on Saturday, the show will run through August 5th. The event is free and everyone is invited.

After almost seven weeks of painters capturing “Scenes in the City,” the Third Annual Falls Church Arts Plein Air Festival competition will culminate in a free brunch opening with artists and the public awaiting the much anticipated cash awards.  The Annual Don Beyer Volvo-KIA Plein Air Prize of $500  for Best in Show will be presented by June and Mike Beyer.  The Tori McKinney, Rock-Star Realtor Plein Air Prize of $250 will be presented by Tori McKinney, and the President’s Prize of $250 will be presented by The Falls Church Arts Board.    Kendall’s Cakes is donating a not-to-be-missed Tupelo honey cake, decorated by FCA artist Jacqlyn Sickler; and Galleria Florist owner, Carol Beales, another FCA member is donating a beautiful floral arts piece.

This year’s judge will be Meg Walsh, whose work has garnered numerous awards at juried exhibitions and national plein air competitions, including winning the Best in Show prize in the 2011 Falls Church Plein Air Festival.  Her work is on sale at fine art galleries in three states, and Falls Church Arts

is pleased to have Meg’s talent and experience for judging this year’s Falls Church Arts Plein Air Festival.

Plein Air, literally means “painting outside” and painters from around the area and as far away as Carlysle, Pennsylvania, have come to paint “Scenes in the City”.  The outside paintings express the color, atmosphere, and temperature that is often lost in paintings that are made from photographs.  Though painting outside is considered more common these days, it was a revolutionary development.  It is associated with Impressionism, capturing natural light and fleeting moments on the canvas.  It was made possible by the innovations of the paint tube and portable easels, and  plein air paintings are considered to have a special natural charm.   Falls Church Arts would love to see City residents view the artist’s renditions of “Scenes in the City”.