Bucks County Gallery Host's First Ever Plein Air Weekend Paint Out

June 15, 2012 - PRLog -- A never before hosted in Bucks County PA art event - Local Color is an extended weekend Plein Air event being hosted by gallery owner Howard Cooperman at the Bucks County Gallery of Fine Art located in New Hope PA.

It is the birthplace of the New Hope School Artists including E.W. Redfield, Walter Baum, Daniel Garber, George Sotter, Fern Coppedge, and others. Also known as the Pennsylvania Impressionist's and American Impressionist's.

Similar to the French impressionist movement, this style of art is characterized by an interest in the quality of color, light, and the time of day. This group of artists usually painted en plein air, or out of doors, to capture the moment. According to James A. Michener Art Museum’s Senior Curator Brian Peterson, “what most characterized Pennsylvania impressionism was not a single, unified style but rather the emergence of many mature, distinctive voices: Daniel Garber's luminous, poetic renditions of the Delaware River; Fern Coppedge's colorful village scenes; Robert Spencer's lyrical views of mills and tenements; John Folinsbee's moody, expressionistic snowscapes; and William L. Lathrop's deeply felt, evocative Bucks County vistas.

Not unlike the events held in Easton MD, Wayne PA., and Cranford NJ,  "Local Color Weekend" will be smaller this year, but set the stage for a much larger plein air event in Bucks County moving forward.

Gallery owner Howard Cooperman said "that he was inspired by the Easton Plein Air Festival when he attended last year. The entire community, both businesses and residents were involved. It was so captivating, I had to begin such an event to Bucks County because of our art rich history and wealth of wonderful painters".

The exhibition is an invitational, meaning that the artists were selected from a handpicked group of plein air painters by gallery owner Howard Cooperman, that travel the country to participate in this type of event. It is not uncommon for the artists to paint a dozen pieces during a four day paint out. Freshly painted art will be juried for prizes by Joseph Sweeney who is a plein air painter himself and teaches at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art in Philadelphia.

The list of participating artists include but are not limited to include: Lauren Andreach, Paul Bachem, Jacalyn Beam, Michele Byrne, John Caggiano, Larry Chestnut, Sandra Corpora, Christine Drewyer, John Ennis, Raymond Ewing, Ellen Gavin, Hai-Ou Hou,Jennifer Holmes, Peter Hunt, Anne Kullaf, Renee Lammers, David Lussier, Kevin Mizner, Larry Moore, Rae O'Shea, Jo-Ann Osnoe, Jane Ramsey, Marilyn Rose, Yelena Snovsky, Kerry Sacco, John Slivjak, Yelena Snovsky, Patricia Walach Keough, and Dennis Young.

Fellow artists, art enthusiasts, and collectors are encouraged to come out and watch the artists create their paintings any day Thursday through Saturday evening. A free map is available at Bucks County Gallery depicting the suggested painting points of interest for the artists. You can request an artist to "personalize" a specific, favorite spot just for you, by contacting the gallery. Call Howard Cooperman for instructions.

The event begins on Thursday 26th when the artists bring their blank canvases and paper to be stamped as "blank" to ensure that all art has been completely painted during the four days.

On Friday evening Edye and Howard Cooperman will host a dinner for the artists at the gallery, ending the night with a fireworks display presented by the New Hope Chamber of Commerce which they do every Friday night throughout the Summer.

Saturday evening from 7-9pm a pre-show artists cocktail reception will open for guests to meet the artists and have the opportunity to purchase freshly painted art, prior to the general public reception which will be held on Sunday.

On Sunday the artwork will be judged for awards at Noon, and the public reception will open from 2-5pm. The exhibit will remain open until August 26th.

Bucks County Gallery is located at 77 W. Bridge Street, (just above the train tracks),  in New Hope PA. Contact Howard Cooperman regarding questions about any of the 36 artists they represent. 215.862.5272. The gallery is open Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday Noon - 5pm.

You can view many of the available artworks at: http://www.buckscountygalleryart.com