By Rick Morwick
For the fourth straight year, artists from across Indiana and elsewhere will ply their craft in the Carmel Arts & Design District during the Carmel On Canvas Plein Air Paint Out.
Up to 100 artists, including many from neighboring states, are expected to participate in what has quickly become a popular event in the streets and parks of downtown Carmel.
Founded in 2014 by renowned plein air painter Jerry Points, the event runs Sept. 15 through Sept. 17 and culminates with an art fair on the final day, with artwork available for purchase.
“It’s a really neat way for the city to highlight artists,” said Points, former owner of the Eye on Art gallery in Carmel. “We’re trying to bring them in from different areas, and we’re obviously accomplishing that by getting painters from all over.”
Artists from Ohio and Michigan have already registered, as have numerous painters from across the state. All are competing for cash prizes totaling more than $13,000, including a $5,000 grand prize for best of show.
Categories range from professional, non-professional, teen and children.
“This year we’ve already got people coming from Ohio, from northern Indiana, from Michigan,” said Meg Gates Osborne, one of three event managers. “Last year we got people from Wisconsin and people from Chicago. We had a winner last year from Bedford, Indiana. We had a winner from Bloomington. We’ve had a winner from Noblesville.”
Paint outs are popular draws for artists, Points said. The Carmel event has grown each year thanks in no small measure to the generous cash prizes awarded.
“Paint outs have become very popular throughout Indiana and nationally,” Points said. “Professional artists are doing that on a full-time basis. There’s a commraderie that exists with all the artists coming together. It’s nice to have painters painting on the sidewalks or in parks.”
Besides watching artists work throughout the event, visitors can enjoy live music and children can create their own artwork in the Carmel on Canvas Creative Kids Zone. The free zone will be offered at two locations Sept. 16.
On the final day, adults can browse the Carmel On Canvas Art Fair between 2 and 6 p.m.
“It’s just a very holistic family based event for the community,” Gates Osborne said.
For more, visit carmelartsanddesign.com/features/carmel_on_canvas/.
