Announcing the 2nd Annual Lafayette Square Plein Air Competition, and inviting artists to come draw and paint throughout the National Historic District of Lafayette Square. The two-week competition will be held from Saturday, May 19th through Friday, June 1st, 2007 in conjunction with the 38th Annual Lafayette Square House and Garden Tour, June 2-3, 2007, which attracts over 4,000 people to the area. Historic Lafayette Square is located on the near south side of St. Louis, Missouri.
Artists representing a wide variety of expertise and media – acrylics, watercolors, pastels, drawing and mixed media – are invited to create artworks of Lafayette Park and the surrounding Victorian homes, gardens and businesses en plein air, which literally means “in the open air”. Registered artists will have two weeks to complete their works of art, which must be executed outdoors and on-site in the Lafayette Square Historic District. Artists are also welcome to participate in four special “quick paint competitions” where they will have two hours to complete a work of art. Artists will have the opportunity to have their best work juried and win over $1,800 in prizes. Award winning art will then be exhibited and artists will have the opportunity to sell their work during the House and Garden Tour on June 2-3, 2007.
ELIGIBILITY: Open to all artists over the age of 14.
CATEGORIES OF ART:
Oil Painting
Watercolor
Pastel
Acrylics
Drawing
Mixed Media and Collage
Quality work will be recognized, but there will only be category awards if there is enough quality artwork.
Participating artist must paint from life - on location. Studio work is not allowed.
FEES: Early bird special $40.00 before May 7th. After May 7th and for walk-ins - $50.00. Fees are non-refundable. Cost is the same if you paint one day or two weeks. Checks and money orders accepted, made payable to the Paint St. Louis.
AWARDS:
Best of Show $250
LS Residents Choice $100
Artist’s Choice $100
First Place in each category $100
Honorable mention – Ribbons
We hope to have four Lafayette Square Quick Paint Contests with prizes ranging from $200 to $300 for each contest. We are in the process of finding sponsors for these contests and details will be announced by May 7th.
Belas Artes will again sponsor one of these contests. The Floral and Still-Life Quick Paint Contest will be Saturday, May 26th (5:00 to 7:00PM). The best twelve paintings from this contest will be exhibited in Belas Artes Gallery from June 4th through the 18th. The top three winners will have their own exhibition at Belas Artes at a later date.
JUROR: Our juror is Robin Hirsch, Associate Director, Art Saint Louis.
JUDGING: Only art created in Plein air in the Lafayette Square Historic District during the competition will be considered for awards. No unstamped surfaces will be considered for jury. All artworks for juring must be delivered to the Park House by 12:00 PM Friday, June 1st. Judging for the general competition will start promptly Friday at 1:00 PM. All paintings to be judged must be framed. Each artist may submit up to two pieces for judging in the general competition, but only one money award will be given per artist. Each artist may display one artwork for judging for the Artist’s Choice and Resident’s Awards during the Artists/Residents Social Friday evening. General competition winners will be announced at the Artists/LS Residents Social.
REGISTRATION & CHECK-IN: Registration for the Competition is $50.00 but artists that register prior to Monday, May 7th, 2007 will receive $10 off the registration fee. Participants must be registered and will receive an ID Card. All artists must have their painting surfaces stamped before painting. Check-in locations will be announced by May 7th.
EVENT SCHEDULE:
Monday May 7th: Deadline for pre-registration. Registration after this date will be $50.00. You must be registered and show your ID Card to get your media stamped.
Saturday, May 19th: Artist may start painting at sunrise, but make sure your media surfaces are stamped first.
Saturday, May 19th: Paint the Park Quick Paint Contest will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.
Sunday, May 20th: Gilded Age Quick Paint Competition – 5:00 to 7:00 PM Sponsored by Preservation Title. $250 First Prize Award
Friday, May 25th: Paint the Plaza Quick Paint Competition – 6:00 to 8:00 PM Sponsored by Albert Hall Emporium. $200 First Prize Award
Saturday May 26th: Belas Artes Still Life and Floral Quick Paint Competition – 4:00 to 7:00 PM Sponsored by Belas Artes Multicultural Center. The top three winners of this competition will have their own art exhibition at Belas Artes Gallery. Interested artists can also participate in a silent auction that will be ongoing while the artists create their paintings.
Friday, June 1st: Plein Air Painting ends at noon. Paintings to be juried must be turned by 1:00 PM. Painting will be juried the afternoon of June 1st and award winners will be announced and on display during the Artists/LS Residents social hour Friday evening.
Friday, June 1st: Artist & Lafayette Square Social Hour from 6:30 to 9:00 PM at the Park House in Lafayette Park. Winners will be announced at the Social. Artists will be able to display their competition created art during the reception.
Saturday, June 2nd: Artists may display and sell their artwork in an area designated in Lafayette Square from 10:00 AM until 8:00 PM.
Sunday, June 3rd: Artists may display and sell their artwork in an area designated in Lafayette Square from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM.
ARTISTS WORKSHOPS: Allen Kriegshauser, last year’s Best of Show winner, will be offering a half-day Plein Air workshop on Sunday morning, May 20th. If you’re interested in learning few tips and techniques to improve your Plein Air painting skills then this workshop is for you. Cost is $35.00 for a half-day. Class size is limited to 15 so check it out and sign up early. WORKSHOP INFORMATION
EXHIBITION BY ARTISTS: Artists will be able to exhibit Plein air artwork, created during the competition Friday evening at the Artists/LS Residents social hour. They will also be able to display their artwork Saturday, June 2nd starting at 10:00 AM until 8:00 PM and Sunday, June 3rd from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. On Saturday and Sunday Artists are encouraged to show and sell plein air artwork created during the competition, but they may also show work created at other locations and in their studio. Display space will be limited to 10’ X 10’ per artist. All artists will be responsible for their display materials – tents, display racks, easels, table and chairs.
SALES: All artwork sold during the exhibition will be subject to a 30% commission by the Arts Council of Lafayette Square.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: All registered artists will receive a packet of additional information about the Lafayette Square Plein Air Competition, the Quick Paint Contests, and the Lafayette Square area prior to the competition. As Quick Paint Contests are added, and dates and locations are determined, information will be provided to registered artists. All changes and additions to the competition will be posted at www.paintstlouis.org
