Event makes St. Charles the backdrop for dozens of works of art

St. Charles brought an artistic flair to the city with its third annual Plein Air event, sponsored by the St. Charles Art Council, which wrapped up over the weekend.

The seven-day event, named for a French term meaning “in the open air,” drew a largest-ever total of 70 artists from across the country from locations are far away as Massachusetts, California and Montana, as well as a lot more locals, who were charged with creating oil and watercolor paintings around the city and then presenting them at the end of the week for viewing and sale.

Sharon Powers, executive director of the Art Council, said the event gives the community the chance to see art being created live outdoors around town.

“People look and see and say — that’s cool — what’s going on? What are they doing there? They’re just seeing things from start to finish,” she said.

On Wednesday, Aug. 19, artists gathered at St. Charles’ Pottawatomie Park to create their own sketches and paintings, including Catherine Martinez from St. Louis, who said this was her first year at the event.

“I have done these types of shows across the Midwest,” she said. “There is so much color and nuance and details that photographs can’t give, and there are also occurrences with the people you meet along the way that are inspiring.”

Other artists likewise said painting outdoors creates a whole different experience.

Naomi Tiry Salgado from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, said this was also her first time at the St. Charles event and that friends had told her it “was a good one.”

“When you’re outside, you have to relax and sort of settle into it so that you can let that flow just show up,” Salgado said. “Sometimes, you’ll be painting a scene and, like, a bird will show up and rather than get upset about it you just say — that’s a perfect spot for a bird — and just flow into it. I like the natural elements.

Johanna Wieden of St. Charles said she has “been painting my whole life” and that she recently got back into watercolors after a back injury sidelined her from work.

“I moved back home and am doing watercolors and gouache, which is a different kind of watercolor,” she said. “I’m definitely a landscape artist. But most importantly, I try to capture the subtlety of the space. With my landscapes, I try to capture the beauty of the color and contrast and the peace and tranquility of that environment.”

Wieden said that translating things seen with the eye into images created by hand definitely takes “some technique.”

“Since I’m an impressionist, I want to have fun with it, so I just kind of pop down my colors,” she said. “Sometimes I start with the background and go to the foreground. That way, whatever is in the front I make it pop the most.”

Carolyn Goldsmith from Monticello, Illinois, said she has appeared at the event before and enjoyed the Fox River “which has a lot of variety.”

“This was a well-run event, and there are opportunities to interact with the other artists. I also really like the gala, which is well done,” she said. “It’s rewarding for the artists who have worked hard all week. I love to be outside. The light is honest. You can see the depth and values of colors. You cannot get that from a camera.”

David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.