Report on Melrose Paint Out

[blondheim12]

This is a quick report on the Melrose Gallery sponsored Paint Out last Saturday. I don't have images to show you because the gallery invited all of us to leave our work there for a month.
Melrose is a small lake community near Gainesville, Fl. It has lovely vintage architecture and a beautiful lake called Melrose Bay. There is a small exquisite gallery there which shows regional artists work. Very good work indeed.
We painted from 9:00AM-4:00PM There were several artists there. We ran in and out of the rain all day, so I only got 4 small paintings. We were treated to a catered lunch at the home of one of our Plein Air Florida members who lives there. It was really well run, with no problems at all. Everyone produced good work and the show was excellent. Surprisingly, many sales were made. I did not expect that. I sold one at the reception and hope for more sales by the end of the show.
I have been invited to join the gallery and I believe I will.
I am very pleased at the response we are getting from the public at our paint outs.
Love,
Linda
http://pleinairflorida.org

[walden]

Sounds wonderful, Linda. I'm so impressed by how much you plein air artists in Florida have achieved in terms of organizing, generating interest in the public, galleries, etc.. I've been thinking about trying to form such a group here-- whether professionals or wannabe's like me, doesn't matter, we would get better in time. I'm a member of Watercolor Art Society of Houston (although not for very long, and I haven't done much watercolor in months), so I'm thinking of asking them if they could put an announcement in the newsletter seeking artists who would be interested in getting together a few times a month to paint outdoors-- in all mediums. And, maybe I could post notices on the bulletin boards at the art supply stores in town.

What do you think? At first, just having other artists to paint with would be wonderful, and in time, maybe we could get up a web site, interest galleries, organize sales, etc.. How did you folks form your group? Any words of advice to offer?

[blondheim12]

We have sold so far $2,700 worth of art at Saturday's paint out gallery show. Not bad at all.

Lisa,
PAF started with two painters, David Johnson and myself.
The first paint out was in Ozello Florida in Sept 2001. I simply put out notices on all the internet bulletin boards asking plein air painters in Florida to contact me. It has just mushroomed from there. My friend David offered to put together a website which gave us alot of publicity and allows people to get info and read the calendar of events. I volunteered to run the newgroup for Florida Painters, which sends out info on equipment, supplies, paint outs, galleries and juried events.
So you see, it takes very little money but alot of volunteer time to get the job done. I will never regret the experience. It has been totally positive. I now know about 100 plein air painters in Florida and the South. They are all unique and wonderful. We are generating a high interest level and starting to sell our plein air paintings through that interest.
It can be done by one or two people. We are lucky to have many of the top professionals in Florida in our membership and also many aspiring painters and hobbiests. Everyone is equally important to the organization. We allow no elitism in our organization. Some of the organizations who invite us as individuals, require professional painters but we have no control over that. As far as PAF paint outs, everyone is welcome, from beginner to long time pros.
I urge you to get started. I have to thank the people who have been hosts for paint outs in different cities. My first host was Cheryl Ritter from Ocala.(paintfool) She was responsible for the great experience we all had, which made this progression all possible.
Love,
Linda
http://pleinairflorida.org

[walden]

Great info and encouragement, Linda-- thanks so much. I'm going to do it!