Working in an array of painting mediums and styles, 27 top artists come together in Atlanta, Georgia, to celebrate plein air painting and compete for top prizes. This year’s Olmsted Plein Air Invitational, now in its 11th year, also features a bevy of special programming that includes artist talks, demonstrations and tours. “We seek to encourage local artists to paint en plein air, to grow an awareness among collectors and to promote the work of living artists,” explains executive director Phil Cuthbertson of the event's mission.
Susan D. Waters, Monolith, oil on cotton canvas, 24 x 18"
“Artists will work in oils, watercolor, pastels, acrylics, and in representational and impressionist styles,” he continues. “Artists bring up to six paintings from home, then begin painting in the competition on Saturday, April 19. The first few days of the event, artists can paint anywhere in the state of Georgia but must be in Atlanta by Tuesday, April 22. Cuthbertson adds that there’s nothing lovelier than springtime in Atlanta, and artists will gather to capture the city’s beautiful parks, streams, rivers, vistas and urban settings.
Michelle Held, Georgia Peaches, oil on linen panel, 12 x 12"
For instance, last year’s winner of the Bill Selman Spirit of Atlanta Award, Susan D. Waters, for her piece Monolith, features a bare rock upswelling found in Stone Mountain Park on the outskirts of Atlanta. “It cannot help but inspire,” she says. “The surreal landscape extends below, dotted with wildflowers and scars from mining. As I drove in the maze of park roads, I saw this view, found the closest parking and trekked to the spot that caught my eye. Save for exchanging encouragement with joggers from the road, I was completely alone and able to give complete attention. It was delicious.”
Waters also shares that she plays with the interaction of transparent and opaque paint in her work, “valuing transparency because of the glow and depth that can be achieved,” she says. “Similarly, thin and thick applications are usually present. The siennas are my favorite pigments, and their autumnal hues can also identify my work. I occasionally leave them out to force experimentation.”
Krystal Brown, Where the Heart Is, oil on aluminum panel, 16 x 20"
Winning the 2024 Best Nocturne award, was Krystal Brown for her piece Where the Heart Is, painted during the event in the backyard of the family that hosted the artist while in Atlanta. “I was welcomed into this beautiful environment and family, and felt so much love from them and the property that I couldn’t help but paint it," shares Brown. “It reminded me of backyard gatherings at my parents’ home where the cousins played night games, while the adults laughed and visited. It was like being home again for a bit…”
While Brown started in the figurative genre, she now feels that painting out in nature is a pure joy and where she feels most connected. “I’m not one to shy away from any subject and I enjoy beauty whether it is in the chrome of a classic car bumper or the sunlight streaming through a cloud,” she says. “I’d love to be known for bringing beauty into the world and blessing lives.”
Natalia Andreeva, Building Future, oil on linen panel, 8 x 16"
The Olmsted Plein Air Invitational kicks off on April 19, when artists begin their plein air paintings. Activities and events close on April 27. Visit the website for a day-by-day breakdown and to learn more. Paintings brought from home and new works will be available for vieweing and purchase at the Olmsted Plein Air Exhibition Gallery and online. —
Olmsted Plein Air Invitational
April 19-27, 2025
Olmsted Plein Air Invitational Gallery , 764 Miami Circle, Suite 150, Atlanta, GA 30324
(404) 282-8283; www.olmstedpleinair.com
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