Beautiful Weather, paintings mark First Brush of Spring Plein Air Event

Special to the News

Over 140 artists gathered in New Harmony, Indiana for the 27th First Brush of Spring plein air event, April 22 – 25, sponsored by the Indiana Plein Air Painters Association (IPAPA) and the Hoosier Art Salon. Twenty-seven years of any event is a milestone, but twenty-seven years of an open plein air event is extremely remarkable.

The Competition judge was Kathie Odom, a nostalgic impressionist painter who is considered to be one of the foremost plein air painters in the world today.

Artists travel to the event from across the country attracted by New Harmony’s southern Indiana charm, cottages planted with flowers, walkable streets, picket fences and quaint downtown. Spring puts on a show with dogwood, redbud, crabapples, peonies, tulips and lilacs bursting into bloom throughout the town and countryside. New Harmony is a spiritual place as well, where people can contemplate life and its many mysteries – and art certainly helps. There is the Roofless Church and multiple labyrinths and gardens that contribute to this almost mystical atmosphere.

The town extends a warm welcome to the annual influx of artists by volunteering to help with events. Residents and visitors often walk and ride in golf carts to meet and watch artists create. There is no shortage of places or things to paint. Artists often describe their idyllic small-town experience as inspiring and interaction with the townspeople as heartwarming.

Event Activities

This was the second year of the paint-out without Dr. George and Mrs. Peggy Rapp in attendance, who started the event in 1999. Although they were not physically present, the spirit with which they celebrated art and artists continued to be felt throughout the event. This year there was a dedication to building a new formal garden named after George and Peggy Rapp. The garden is being planned by the Blaffer Foundation and is being designed by famed British Landscape Architect Alistair Baldwin. This garden will be his first commission in America.

Field to Finish Exhibition

Each year a “Field to Finish” Exhibition and Sale of works by artists is featured in the Hoosier Art Salon Gallery, where artists bring a field study completed the prior year to exhibit together with a studio work inspired by the same subject. The exhibition opening, kicks off the paint-out.

The “Field to Finish” exhibit was judged by Kathie Odom, who selected Mark Vander Vinne’s work for the Best of Show award. Also garnering awards were Iris Gentry, Robert Pote, Jason Bailey, David Seward and Carol Strock-Wasson.

Odom said “From both the artist and collector standpoint, I really like and appreciate this sort of show... one which allows artists to do a plein air sketch in advance and then take it home to study and think on before tackling the larger piece. This collection of finished work was oh so exciting to see!"

Larry Rudolech Quick Draw

A 75-minute quick draw is held on Thursday, and all of the winners get a “Larry” badge displaying a self-portrait of Larry Rudolech, a much-beloved IPAPA member who left us far too soon in 2020. Over 50 artists participated in the quick draw this year. The work was so outstanding that Judge Kathie Odom asked to give out ten awards instead of the regular eight. Top prizes for the Quick Draw went to Justin Vining, Michael Patrick Bailey, Jerry Smith, Donna Shortt and Pamela Wilburn. Also receiving recognition were Elizabeth Bird, David Seward, Lon Brauer, Jed Dorsey and Kathleen Martinez.

Kathie Odom was impressed. "Totally opposite from Field-to-Finish, the QD produces a quick-response painting without the artist having too much time to get up in their head. The paintings I was honored to judge in New Harmony were fresh and spontaneous!"

Plein Air Competition

The paint-out culminates with a competition on Saturday, which confers awards in excess of $13,000. Over 40 awards were given for Professional, Non-Professional, Nocturne and Student categories.

This year there were 47 Nocturne paintings entered. Like the Quick draw the judge asked for ten awards instead of the normal eight. The top prizes in the Nocturne category went to Laura Appleby, Robert Pote, Justin Vining, Melinda Spear-Huff and Michael Patrick Bailey. Also receiving recognition were Rick Wilson, Donna Shortt, Jed Dorsey, Logan Hudson and Aaron Briner.

Nocturne Award Pin

Judge Kathie Odom said, "Wow! What a gift I was given to see such a large number of paintings stretched out on the park lawn in full sunlight... ALL produced in less than one week's time! I just love plein air! It was a huge challenge to judge so many beautiful paintings in such a short amount of time. I could have spent all day and loved every minute of it! The artists really brought it! My greatest privilege was to see the faces of artists when they were encouraged!"

The top prizes went to:

Best of Show – Donna Shortt

1st Place – Sarah Lorentz

2nd Place – Mary Ann Davis

3rd Place – Lon Brauer

Awards of Merit – Randall Floyd, Michael Patrick Bailey and Simona Buna

1st Place Non-Professional – Katya Alexeeva

Donna has been painting in New Harmony for a very long time, and winning “Best of Show” has been her goal for a very long time.