Washington holds En Plain Air art competition

Art Domestique in Washington held an “En Plaine Aire” competition over the weekend.

Iowa Wesleyan University art professor and event judge Ann Klingensmith said the competition had historical roots but became popularized in the United States in the last 15 years.

“It’s always been established in Europe, or quite often, that’s where we point to,” she said. “They have a group of artists come together, and they don’t work together, but to be with each other, to work with the landscape.”

Art Domestique board member Cheryl Barnes said that while the event was open to the public, it tended to draw career artists.

“These are artists that paint, some of them, as professionals,” she said. “They’re artists that have been painting for years. We have art teachers that are retired. We have younger artists of age ranges, one lady is in her 70s … They come in, we give them a packet of information and an apron, and they go out and pick out sites that they want to paint.”

Kimberly Fuller, an artist from Oxford was sitting in the grass in the square on Saturday painting a lamppost. Fuller said painting outside offers a uniquely peaceful experience.

“The whole premise of the painting is to kind of capture the natural light, so it’s kind of fun when the day shifts and you can kind of see everything,” she said.

Kathleen Almelien is on the board of directors of the Art Domestique and participated in the competition. She painted a scene outside Don’s in Washington, and was preparing to paint a plant in her backyard.

Almelien said she enjoyed painting outside because it offers a more dynamic scene than a photograph can provide.

“I’m hoping people discover some of the shapes and some of the forms that are here in Washington,” She said. “You don’t have to go far away to participate.”