West Vancouver’s Ambleside waterfront will see artists of all ages and skill levels compose, paint, complete and frame a piece of art Saturday as part of the 15th edition of the Harmony Arts Annual Grand Plein Air Challenge.
The theme of this year’s Grand Prix Plein Air Challenge is “Views of Ambleside,” said Leigh-Ann Niehaus, community arts supervisor at West Vancouver’s Ferry Building Gallery.
Each participant will be invited to draw a location out of a hat, and the assigned location will be somewhere within Ambleside between 13th and 18th Streets.
“Participants will try to capture a unique view of their designated spot, reflecting the beauty and diversity of the Ambleside waterfront in their paintings,” she said.
The event starts in the Artspeaks Tent, which is located alongside the Ferry Building Gallery, at 10 a.m. and continues into the afternoon at 2 p.m.
Works will then be assessed by judges who are selected based on their experience with plein air painting, their involvement in the community, and their general knowledge about artistic techniques. Prizes donated by Opus Art Supplies will be awarded to the winners.
“After the winners are announced, we hold a reception for all participants. During this reception, the artworks go on display to the public in the Artspeaks Tent. If an artist chooses to sell their work, they will include a price. Members of the public have the opportunity to buy the artwork at this point,” said Niehaus.
The event will include experienced plein air artists, emerging artists, and youth participants. The organizers have pledged to ensure that artists in each category receive recognition and prizes.
The Grand Prix Plein Air Challenge was first introduced in the summer of 2009 as part of the festival and has continued ever since. Artist Alfonso Tejada initially organized plein air painting events to celebrate the Cherry Blossom Festival in the Vancouver area. Building on this success, he collaborated with the Harmony Arts Festival to create their own plein air event.
Niehaus said that the community has always responded enthusiastically to the competition presented by the Ferry Building Gallery. Everyone is welcome to get involved. Bystanders can watch the artists at work and view the finished products afterward.
Artists can sign up online at activewestvanrec.
