By Laurie Hill
Marjorie Shanks, a plein air artist from Effie, Louisiana, saw Capitola Plein Air’s call to artists and knew she had to apply. Her grandmother’s name was Capitola.
Four years ago Shanks and her husband were so enamored with plein air — painting outdoors — that they started a one-day “Community Paint Out” in their hometown.
On Oct. 21-28, Shanks will join 39 artists for a week of painting out of doors in Capitola as a part of 9th Annual Capitola Plein Air event, sponsored by the Capitola Arts and Cultural Commission. There are several new and returning artists in this year’s competition.
Artists arrive in Capitola on Monday and paint throughout the week. They gather in Esplanade Park on Friday, Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for an “Artist Meet and Greet.” This is your chance to meet the artists, watch them paint, and learn a bit about the plein air process.
Capitola Plein Air culminates in a competition, exhibition and sale on Sunday, Oct. 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at New Brighton Middle School Performing Arts Auditorium, 250 Washburn Ave. The exhibition includes an art activity, music from Cement Ship, and hundreds of original art pieces for sale.
Come see Capitola through the eyes of 40 artists.
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Capitola Plein Air 2024 Artists
Natalia Aandewiel • Mike Allison • Ruth Bates • Lisa Burns • Louis Chan • Aiwen Chen • Wei Ting Chaung • John Crawford • Guadalupe De Los Santos • Robin Deshayes • Victoria Galitzine • Meisha Grichuhin • Adam Hansen • Joan Hellenthal • John Hewitt • Sterling Hoffmann • Cyrus Hunter • Tamara Keiper • Bill Kennann • Shanna Kuempel • Robert Lewis • Waverly Liu • Olivia Mafnas • Will Maller • Marie Massey • Annette Dion McGowan • Deborah Newman • Stacey Nussbaum • Joe Ortiz • Edward G Penniman • Karen Potter • Margaret Rich • Ian Scott • Tiina Seppalainen • Marjorie Shanks • Nutan Singh • Vanessa Stafford • Carol Tarzier • Ann Thiermann • Marti Walker
TOP PHOTO: Marjorie Shanks of Texas, a plein air artist.