Plein Air Community Painting: Capturing Nature IRL

On July 5, bird song filled the air over the meadows of the Buzzards Bay Coalition’s Carvalho Farm as the grasses swayed gently. A dozen artists were sketching and painting the scenes before them. After fueling up at the restored-vintage runabout boat turned coffee truck, others meandered along the trail to look over the artists’ shoulders to look in awe at the works in progress. 

This was the kickoff to the second annual Plein Air Festival, organized by Susan Darwin as part of the Fairhaven Summer Art Gallery. The idea: encourage the public to get outside and appreciate nature and art.

Open to all levels, from beginners to well-known professionals, Darwin says this event “opens up the opportunity for any artist in the area to be involved. We can all benefit by getting out and looking at the beauties of nature, direct observation, and meeting people. The public really loves to see us out working. It’s inspiring to them. It’s a way of enjoying this land in a very real way.”

Some artists were drawn to the meadow scene, others to miniature sketches of the wildflowers. One artist set up shop under the canopy of trees to focus on a single bold mushroom. At the trail’s end, others were painting scenes from around Indian Rock and the salt marsh abutting it. “it’s just lovely to have a morning to focus just on art,” artist Margo Connolly said.

Although the coffee truck has left the scene, the opportunity to participate in the Plein Air Festival by painting Fairhaven-based scenes is through July 17. Email your submissions to mail@fairhavensummerartgallery.com or drop them off at the Fairhaven Summer Art Gallery at 29 Center Street. The submissions will be considered for various prizes and displayed on July 18 at Night at the Town Hall.

“We’re so lucky to have so much beautiful, preserved land,” Darwin says. We’re also lucky to have so much creativity in the area. It’s a great combination. 

Find out more at fairhavensummerartgallery.com/pleinair.