Plein air painting comes to Carmel

Watch art created before your very eyes at the sixth annual Carmel on Canvas plein air event – an open-air painting exhibition and competition on the sidewalks throughout the Carmel Arts & Design District and Midtown. The event, which is free to spectators, runs Friday to Sunday, Sept. 13 to 15.

“We are excited to welcome back local and regional artists to Carmel on Canvas, said Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard. “This is a great event for our community, which highlights our beautiful architecture and landscapes through the eyes of various artists. It is especially entertaining for families with small children who we hope become inspired to create their own art.”

Photo provided

Artists ranging from professionals to amateurs, including a teen and children’s division, will be painting at a variety of locations for the plein air event all day Friday and Saturday. The public is invited to come to the district and Midtown to watch the painters set up their easels and paint their chosen subjects. The artists’ works are for sale, so you could negotiate a price before the paint is even dried. Artists are able to register at the Indiana Design Center (200 S. Range Line Road) beginning at 8:30 a.m. Friday, and from 8:30 a.m. ton noon Saturday.

One quick paint is offered to registered artists on Saturday at the Carmel Farmers Market (5 Center Green) where winning paintings will be determined by a community vote by market visitors. The winning artists will take home a $300 first place prize, a $200 second place award and a $100 third place spot, as well as the $50 child merit award.

Also on Saturday, children are able to paint at the Carmel Arts Council’s Kids Zones from noon to 3 p.m., with two locations in the Arts & Design District, including Magdalena Gallery of Art (27 E. Main St.) and Carmel Arts Council’s Children’s Art Gallery (40 W. Main St.).

The plein air artworks created on Friday and Saturday will be judged by Shawn Krueger. Krueger is a contemporary landscape painter who, over the course of his career, has shown his works in a variety of galleries across the United States. This year the artist was invited to be a signature member of the American Tonalist Society and to participate in the inaugural exhibition Shades of Gray at the Salmagundi Club in New York. Locally, he has been invited to participate in recently curated shows at Butler University (In Open Air) and Harrison Center for the Arts (Landscape Today). Shawn’s work has garnered a number of awards over the years and his pieces are in dozens of private collections as well as in the permanent collections of the Grand Rapids Art Museum, Gilda’s Club of GR, Calvin College and the Bissell Corporation.

The plein air reception and public viewing takes place at 5 p.m. on Saturday where the paintings will be available for viewing and for sale before the judging at 6 p.m. Artist awards include a $3,000 grand prize, $2,000 for second place, $1,500 for third and $1,000 for fourth. Award winners will be announced at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday along Artists Lane (also known as 2nd Avenue NW) between Sophia Square and the Monon Greenway.

Sunday’s art fair will feature works created by Carmel on Canvas artists from noon to 4 p.m. It will be set up along Artists Row (2nd Avenue NW). Artists are encouraged to display works from the plein air event along with other works in their collection.

Carmel on Canvas artists also have the opportunity to compete for Purchase Awards by painting the sponsoring establishment and winning the listed monetary prize. Those winners will also be chosen on Saturday night.

Thank you to the following Carmel Arts & Design District businesses for offering Purchase Awards:

• Bazbeaux Pizza ($300)
• The Carrie Holle Group – Highgarden Real Estate ($250)
• Terry and Lezlie Heath Home ($500)
• Indiana Design Center ($250)
• Scott Osborne Sculpture at Carmel-Clay Historical Society Depot ($500)

Thank you to these sponsors:

• Blick Art Materials
• Carmel Arts Council
• Chapman-Osborne Legacy Realtors
• City of Carmel
• Hamilton County Tourism
• Indiana Design Center
• RPM Technologies, LLC

The following is a schedule of events. All events are open to the public.

Friday, Sept. 13

• 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. All Day Plein Air Paint Begins: Registration & Check-in at Hoosier Salon (200 Range Line Road). Artists register and paint throughout the day in the Arts District and Midtown. Public is encouraged to watch the artists create their work.

Saturday, Sept. 14

• 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. All Day Plein Air Paint Continues: Artists register and paint throughout the day in the District. Public is encouraged to watch the artists create their work. Musicians will be playing throughout the District.
• 9 to 10:30 a.m. – Quick Paint at the Carmel Farmers Market (5 Center Green)
• 10:30 to 11 a.m. – Quick Paint “Community Choice” judging, awards to follow
• 4 to 5 p.m. – Plein air paintings turned in by artists to Artists’ Lane tent (2nd Avenue NW)
• 5 to 6 p.m. – All day plein air reception and public viewing
• 6:30 p.m. – All day plein air award ceremony

Saturday Carmel Arts Council’s Kids Zone

• Noon to 3 p.m. – Event volunteers will assist children ages 4 to 12 in creating a piece of art to take home.

Sunday, Sept. 16

• Noon to 4 p.m. – Art Fair in the District (Artists’ Lane – Main St & 2nd Avenue NW)

Public parking is available in the Carmel Lions Club lot (141 E. Main St.), Sophia Square parking garage (entrance off of 1st Avenue NW), Indiana Design Center parking garage (200 S. Range Line Road) or available on-street public parking. Click here to download the Arts & Design District parking map.

About the Carmel Arts & Design District

The Carmel Arts & Design District is the Midwest’s premier arts and design destination. Home to more than 200 businesses, including art galleries, restaurants, antique dealers, design showrooms, boutiques, and creative service providers, the Carmel Arts & Design District promises to stimulate the senses. The Indiana Design Center is housed in the Carmel Arts & Design District. In addition, hundreds have taken advantage of the wide variety of housing opportunities and call the Carmel Arts & Design District home.