Plein Air painting is great fun, produces powerful works packed with immediacy. Given Bristol’s diverse landscape and creative roots, Cass Art Bristol and I decided to launch the Great Bristol Paint Off (yes I know….not cakes, but paint, and work in all types of media were welcome)
And so it came to pass that early on the 8th of September, over 30 intrepid artists gathered at Cass Art and were given 4 hours to paint a landscape of anywhere in Bristol, as long as it was no more than 20 minutes from Park Street. My plan was to visit as many artists as possible, during the day but this proved rather challenging as it was tricky to find people and get round everyone before 2.30! (Next time we might stick to a couple of locations!) Enter my folding bike…which only has 6 gears and is very rattly!
Some people painted at Brandon Hill, others by the river and others were dotted all round the city. We were blessed with warm sunshine and little wind – what could be better!
By 3pm people were returning to Cass Art and we hung the work ready for the judges. I was chuffed that our judges included current President of the RWA Stewart Geddes, renowned “plein air” watercolourist Claudia Arecelli and Gavin from Cass Art who is also a painter.
Drum roll ……The winners were:
First Prize: Myrna Quinonez (View of Queens Square)
Second Prize: Roger Deller, who also won the People’s Choice Vote (View from the Triangle)
Third Prize: Jayne Tricker (view of Under the Stars and the waterfront)
The under 21s prize went to Eva Clifton.
Judges commendations went to Nia McKeowan, Jacqui Porter and Rebecca Clark
Thank you so much to everyone that took part, the fabulous judges and staff at Cass Art Bristol and also my family who worked hard all day!