Augusta Plein Air Art Festival Attracts New Haven Artists

The 18th Annual Augustua Plein Air Art Festival began April 22 and will last through May 1. It is a festival which allows artists to expand their markets, experience, and to have fun painting with other artists of all skill levels. It also provides art lovers with a chance to observe artists at work and to purchase original pieces from local talents.

This year in particular has been an exciting affair. After a long year of being cooped up at home, artists and fans are more than ready to coat their canvases under the sun at various Paint Outs, as Plein Air means “in the open air.” This year’s event has also felt the positive influence of the Hoffmann Company’s support and publicity attracting painters and observers to one of Augusta’s biggest events.

On Friday evening, a Sunset Paint Out at Balducci’s Winery was filled with more than 30 painters and spectators enjoying the wine and food that Balducci’s is famous for. Jeri and David Hoffmann also attended and assisted in the judging for that evening’s paintings. Farley Lewis was the first place finisher with his acrylic painting entitled “God’s Country.”

All the painters exhibited their work in a prepared gallery space in the winery pavilion and many of the works were sold to interested spectators. New Haven’s former pastor David Wesley Poe also participated in the Sunday Paint Out among at the stunning Noboleis Vineyards. Pastor Poe has been painting landscapes for several years and has gotten quite good as evidenced by his social media postings. New Haven artist Julie Wiegand will also bring her brushes and palette to the forthcoming week’s Paint Out. The festival culminates with a final judging, awards, and sale at the Augusta Town Square on Saturday, May 1 from 12-6 p.m.

For more information, see their website at https://www.augustapleinair.com/.