Created for plein air landscape painters by a plein air painter, Shaun Horne, comes the highly anticipated third edition of the Crested Butte Plein Air Invitational.This special event, last hosted in 2014, includes 20 of the best plein air and studio painters in the country, along with a growing list of 65-plus jury-selected, emerging and mid-career artists. All the works, around 300 paintings, will depict the gorgeous scenery of Colorado’s high country.
Exterior view of the Crested Butte Center for the Arts.
“I’m a plein air painter myself and I own a gallery, so I’m in the market,” says Horne of Shaun Horne Gallery and event organizer. “The idea [behind the invitational] is to collect some of the best talents of today and show off what a great time in painting this is.”
Horne reminiscences about a college research paper he wrote, in which he highlighted plein air hotspots through time—like France in the 19th century. “I think we’re seeing a change in American painting back to observational and plein air painting, or rather, a great bloom,” he explains. “A lot of artists, including myself, are enjoying that market.”
Jay Moore, Morning Atmosphere, Crested Butte, oil on linen, 20 x 20”
This return to plein air or observational painting, where artists are “painting what they’re looking at,” is highlighted quite richly in the upcoming 2023 invitational. While most observational painting is seen in categories like still life and the figure, the invitational will focus on the landscape, and more specifically, the landscape of Crested Butte, Colorado, and the surrounding area. In addition, attendees will witness an abundance of studio work.
Some of the leading plein air artists of our time will be participating with astonishing works for sale. This list includes Bill Anton, Josh Elliott, Jay Moore, Kathie Odom, Brad Teare, Carolyn Lord, Ray Roberts and Heather Burton, to name just a few. Juried artists for the open class of artists include Brienne M. Brown, Christopher Copeland, Farley Lewis, Holly Kernes, Lorie Merfeld-Batson, Mary K. Forshagen, Patrick F. Duke and Najeeb Abdulrahiman.
Josh Elliott, Colorful Colorado, oil, 10 x 12”
Horne notes that these artists have been painting original creations of the Colorado high country for two years. “Part of the process for the event is getting all the artists here to paint,” says Horne. “The last time we did this, we ended up with 100 painters in the valley at the same time. It creates interest and sets up the ‘bonfire’ that’s coming. This mountain town is one of the most beautiful in the United States, making it an appropriate place to have a plein air event.”
Bill Anton, Lake Irwin, oil on linen, 10 x 12”
The opening weekend runs from August 11 through 13, hosted at the Crested Butte Center for the Arts. Artwork will remain on view at the art center through August 28. All paintings, original plein air and studio works, are available for purchase. In addition, on Friday, August 11, at noon, Scott Ferris will give a lecture on Rockwell Kent, the famous 20th-century American painter. —
Crested Butte Plein Air Invitational
August 11-13, 2023
Works displayed through August 28
Crested Butte Center for the Arts, 606 Sixth Street, Crested Butte, CO 81224
(970) 349-5252, crestedbuttepleinairinvitational.com
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