Anyone familiar with the landscape of the Cache la Poudre River may recognize paintings by local artists on display during an on-campus exhibit this month.
The Paint the Poudre Plein Air exhibition will be on display during library hours July 24–Aug. 22 in the Morgan Library gallery next to Morgan’s Grind. Colorful landscapes of the Cache la Poudre River were painted “en plain air,” or outdoors, by 36 artists using oil, pastel, acrylic and watercolor techniques.
The public is also invited to an opening artists’ reception from 6 to 9 p.m. July 24.
This is the third year of the event, organized by local artists and avid plein air painters Marie Massey and Diane Edwards to benefit SavethePoudre.org. Part of every sale goes to support SavethePoudre.org’s work to protect and restore the Cache La Poudre River.
Join the paint out
Mary Giacomini, who has participated in Paint the Poudre for the past three years, has volunteered to lead several “paint outs” during the exhibition. A paint out is a group of artists getting together to create at a designated location.
“I personally really like early morning light,” said Giacomini, who has been painting plein air for more than 20 years. “With plein air, you never know what you are going to get. … Painting when you are dealing with weather and clouds and bugs, anything can happen.”
She led a paint out at Century Park along the Poudre River, where she painted two pieces that will be on display at the exhibition.
“It is a fun thing when people like your art,” Giacomini said about the exhibition.
Participating artists will show their work and discuss the plein air process at the artists’ reception. Carl Judson of Judson’s Art Outfitters in LaPorte will judge the entries and present a history of plein air painting at 5 p.m. in the Event Hall of the Morgan Library.
Best of show, first, second and third place awards will be presented at the Artists’ Reception. Award sponsors include Nordic Arts, Judson’s Art Outfitters, Terry Ludwig Pastels, Otteman Arts, The Pastel Society of Colorado, Mountain Whitewater Descents and more.
