Landscape artists make it quite plein

For some, it's a lot like a sport, as adventuresome and energizing as running a favorite race or hiking along a wonderful new trail.

What is?

A plein-air festival. This increasingly popular occasion of outdoor art-making is spreading rapidly. Kutztown has one (last month). Philadelphia has one (this month). And the Wayne Art Center has a splendid one - last month and this month.

Plein air festivals involve landscape painting done outdoors, in the open air - rain or shine - for several days. Results are then framed and hung for public display, with prizes awarded by an out-of-town judge.

In Wayne, the painting part of the art center's fifth annual festival took place from May 17 to 21. Since then, not only have paintings been selling - they'll be on display through June 24 - but five or six more have been commissioned by visitors. (Typically, one says to a staffer, "I have a historic house/beautiful garden/amazing view, and I want this artist to paint a picture of it. Can you help?" They can.)

The show features more than 200 oil paintings, watercolors and pastels by 31 juried artists from nine states. The art center arranges for artists from a distance to stay as guests with local host families. Five years ago, six such stays were arranged; this year there were 24.

And though it rained the whole time, the artists produced more work than ever before - 177 paintings in the first three days, of suburban/rural scenes. The last day was spent painting on streets all over town. In both venues, onlookers were plentiful.

It has been fascinating to watch the character of this popular show evolve. One clue that it is gaining clout is the fact that 11 participating artists this year are from Maryland, home of America's leading plein-air festival at Easton, which draws nationwide entries. Evident at a glance is the sophistication of the Maryland delegation, which includes prizewinner Raymond Ewing and honorable-mention recipients Michael Kotarba, Tim Bell, and Stewart White.