Jeremy Sams, a painter with 16 years of experience paints the Elliots Pharmacy building on Main Street.
Adam Fish paints along Main Street during the En Plein Air Paint-off.
Dan Nelson stands with his painting of the CupCake Bite on Broad Street while talking to Jermaine Powell after he won the 2013 En Plein Air Paint-off April 12.
Part of the Spring for the Arts, rickshaws were available to shuttle art lovers around town to see the different paintings in progress.
Alice Sterling gets comfortable as she works on her painting along Main Street.
Heather Sink paints Anna's Pizza on Main Street.
Kathy Koch, of the American Legion Cruisers, stands with her 1977 Ford Ranger during the Cruise-in April 12. Koch is part of Post 116 in Fuquay-Varina.
The Fuquay Cruisers gather in the parking lot at Main and Vance Streets to show off their classic cars to the community.
En Plein Air Paint-off goers gather around as Jimmy Bissette paints a historic home on Spring Street.
Douglas Payne paints one of Fuquay-Varina's many historic homes.
Tim Postell, a Plein Air painter from Raleigh, paints the Fuquay-Varina Museum on South Fuquay Avenue.
Spring for the Arts booths line Raleigh Street in downtown Fuquay April 12. The Fuquay-Varina Arts Council even had an open mic for attendees to share poems, stories and songs.
Team Fuquay-Varina prepares for a barbecue fundraiser to help with its Relay for Life goal.
Team Fuquay-Varina prepares for a barbecue fundraiser to help with its Relay for Life goal.
Jermaine Powell, or J.P. as he likes to be called, paints Stick Boy Bakery on Main Street downtown.
Fuquay's own Shirley Husberger works on her painting along South Fuquay Avenue.
Fuquay-Varina was hopping April 12 with a combination of events throughout all parts of the downtown areas.
Spring for the Arts, the Fuquay Cruisers’ classic cruise-in and the Town of Fuquay-Varina Relay for Life barbecue sale all added to one amazing event that brought art to life.
The second annual En Plein Air Paint-off was a success with 21 painters setting up easels throughout Fuquay, Varina and the link. In just four hours, artists presented their work for judging and Dan Nelson of North Raleigh took first place.
“I’m tickled to pieces,” Nelson said.
Nelson was assigned to paint the CupCake Bite on Broad Street in Varina. Before he set up his easel to paint, Nelson said he walked up and down the block to look at the shop from every angle. Finally, he set up in front of Fuquay Gold, painting the entire corner of Varina Station with a bit of the old Fuquay Sports Shop in the painting as well.
He took some liberties in the painting to make it different from the other artists’ work.
“The sun didn’t look like this at all,” Nelson said of his painting.
He actually painted in the afternoon hours, but made the street look like it was just approaching dusk.
“I turned the lights on in the (CupCake Bite) building to make it the focal point,” he said.
Mayor John Byrne said he was amazed at the caliber of work the artists showed in such a limited amount of time.
“They’re some talented people,” Byrne said.
Nelson hasn’t been to Fuquay-Varina in several years and he said he was ecstatic to take part in the En Plein Air event.
“I’m so glad to see that Fuquay-Varina has visionary leadership,” Nelson said. “It really is the arts that brings a town to life.”
Nelson’s work, along with the other artists’ paintings, will be on the auction block in a month and a half.
“June 1, come back downtown,” Fuquay-Varina Downtown Association Director Naomi Riley said to a crowd at the event. “You can bring one of these (paintings) home. Bring your checkbook.”
The second and third place winners will be decided by the community. The FVDA plans to have images of all of the artwork on its website this week for community members to vote online.
Contact Kelly Griffith at kgriffith@civitasmedia.com or 919-552-5675.
Post a Comment
