2019 NSB Paint Out Cover Art by Ruth Squitieri

by Lisa D. Mickey

The annual Plein Air Paint Out will once again bring outdoor enthusiasts and art lovers to the Marine Discovery Center and The Artists’ Workshop for a weeklong celebration of outdoor painting in New Smyrna Beach.

This year’s ninth annual event will be held Oct. 20-26. For one week, 25 artists from throughout Florida, the Southeast region and several other states will capture the landscape and culture of New Smyrna Beach and surrounding areas through their plein air (open air) creations.

These daily original art creations will be available for public viewing and purchase while exhibited at The Artists’ Workshop and studio, located at 540 Barracuda Boulevard in New Smyrna Beach — in the same building as the Marine Discovery Center.

The invited artists will be painting from dawn through the evening each day during the event at sites ranging from Old Fort Park and historic Canal Street to scenic waterways. Visitors are encouraged to attend free art demonstrations to observe the artists at work.

Proceeds from the sale of the paintings will benefit the Marine Discovery Center and The Artists’ Workshop. The event supports fund-raising efforts for environmental education and art programs at each of the nonprofit organizations.

Local artists may also get involved in the annual community “Quick Draw,” set for Saturday, Oct. 19 from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in Old Fort Park in New Smyrna Beach. Participants in the event pay a registration fee of $25 in this two-hour competition to create a painting for cash prizes. Winner of the event will collect a prize of $100 and will receive an invitation to participate in Paint Out 2020. Visit NSBpaintout.com for details.

New Smyrna’s Plein Air Paint Out started in 2010 by Friends of Canaveral and benefitted Canaveral National Seashore’s fund-raising arm for six years before transitioning over to other local nonprofit educational organizations, including the Marine Discovery Center and The Artists’ Workshop.

More information will be announced about daily events during Paint Out in early October.

For full details about the New Smyrna Beach Paint Out, visit NSBPaintOut.com or for sponsorship/patron information, contact Wendy Castino at 386.428.4828.