Kyle Buckland
Kingsport, Tennessee, hosts its first plein air painting competition with a show to follow. Plein air painting is creating art outdoors. It started centuries ago, although the French Impressionist painters really made it popular. These artists wanted to capture the light as it changed during the day and with the invention of portable easels and paint in tubes, artists were able to paint outdoors or “en plein air.”
In the past 20 years, plein air painting has become popular all over the world. In the U.S., a national convention is held every year to bring celebrated plein air artists to share their talents and techniques with other artists. This year’s convention was held in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Many cities around the U.S. have inaugurated regional competitions to demonstrate the artists in this field.
This year, Kingsport is hosting its first plein air competition, Paint Kingsport! It begins July 5 with a workshop led by Kyle Buckland, one of the artists who participated in the Santa Fe convention. This is followed by a three-day competition where artists paint anywhere in Kingsport and submit two paintings for judging. July 9, a quick draw, three-hour painting competition is held and prizes are awarded that evening. Buckland judges the competition. First prize is $1,000. The event is celebrated at a gala reception July 9.
This competition is cosponsored by the Kingsport Art Guild and the Office of Cultural Arts, City of Kingsport.
