Wild Apple was thrilled to sponsor the VINS En Plein Air Festival last week.

For the past couple of years we have been thrilled to sponsor the Vermont Institute of Natural Science En Plein Air Festival here in Vermont. It truly is a beautiful event bringing talented artists to our beautiful back door to paint in the remarkable beauty and diversity of the Ottauquechee River and the Connecticut Watershed.

The National Gallery of London describes En Pein Air as:

Plein Air is the French for open air. The term is used to describe the practice of artists painting before a landscape or other chosen subject out of doors, rather than in a studio or workshop. Before the end of the 18th century outdoor work was usually restricted to drawings and watercolours, but in the 19th century the increasing popularity of sketching landscapes in oil developed gradually into the practice of painting finished pictures in front of the motif.

Happenings at VINS En Plein Air 2016

This year at the festival, we were thrilled to have artists Julia Purinton and Kathrine Lovell featured at the event. Their lovely pieces were incredible to watch evolve throughout the day. We are so thankful to be able to share their talent.

Quick Paint Competition

Sue and Gretchen (with Kathrine’s help) judged the quick paint competition. Nearly 20 artist came to the campus to paint a complete painting in 3 hours or less. There were some amazing pieces created in this short time period! Sue told us “The skill and talent of the three hour paintings was hard to believe and it was difficult to choose three winners. The winners represented the beautiful day with varied style and media— an owl (the winner) in watercolor, and impasto landscape of the main meadow and an oil painting of a pocket of woods and field.

VINS en Plein Air 2016 Quick Paint

Overall Winners

Later in the week, Moira and Sue judged the paintings done throughout the full week. Best in Show went to Sandra Hildreth and Best Avian Art to Agata Marzec of Woodstock!

Moira Hershey Judging at VINS 2016

VINS Best in Show 2016

Congratulations to all the winners and to VINS for putting on such a creative, thoughtful and beautiful event. More details and a complete list of winners can be found here.

Photo credit to the ever amazing Sue Schlabach