The third annual Cultural Heritage Plein Air Event will be on display at the Johnson County Center for the Arts, Mountain City, Tennessee, throughout the month of October. The show opens with a reception for artists and Wet Paint Sale Friday, Oct. 4, from 4-6 p.m. The reception includes light refreshments and live music.
Artists may enter up to three works in the Cultural Heritage Plein Air Event. Entries must be received at the Johnson County Center for the Arts by noon Saturday, Sept. 28.
Registration fee is $25 for adults and $10 for youth. Works should depict one of the 31 cultural heritage sites listed in the Johnson County Cultural Heritage Map brochure. Maps are available at the Center for the Arts and will be mailed upon request. All works entered must have been completed outdoors en plein air. Minor adjustments in the studio are allowed. Works must have been completed within the past year. All works must be framed or gallery wrapped and ready to hang or display. Artwork may be priced for sale or marked for display only. The Center for the Arts retains a 20% commission on all sales. Work must be family friendly.
Ribbons and monetary prizes are awarded to first, second and third places for the adult and youth divisions. The adult division first place will receive $250, second place $150 and third place $100. The youth division (under 16) first place receives $100, second place $75, and third place $50. Each adult and youth winner also receives a copy of “Fine Art Tips with Lori McNee-Painting Techniques & Professional Advice.”
This event is an invitation for artists to select a painting location from the Johnson County Culture Heritage Map and create a painting on site en plein air. The map lists 31 historic landmarks, famous home places, trails and natural areas throughout the county.
Artist Temple Reece developed the annual plein air event in 2022 based on the map and said, “My hope is for visitors and locals to explore and more deeply appreciate the heritage, beauty and wonder of Johnson County.”
“Take as few supplies as possible,” Reece advises, “four tubes of paint; primaries and white, a couple of brushes, a palette, some paper towels, and a painting surface. Everything else is optional.” Once at your location, find a comfortable spot to work for a couple hours. Do a quick thumbnail sketch and just paint without concern for the outcome but enjoying the process and loving the experience. Every time you look at your plein air painting, the feelings, thoughts, sights, sounds and smells of that time come to mind and hopefully, some of that comes through to the viewer as they look at your art.”
