Artists Paint in the Open Air

Art enthusiasts took advantage of the cool weather Thursday evening, to take a stroll downtown for the Artwalk.

Local businesses, restaurants, bars and art galleries, as well as the Museum of Fine Arts and the Cactus Hotel were open to the public to view the artwork of various local artists.

This month’s Artwalk featured something a little different; Plein Air Painters held a painting workshop at Sealy Flats.

Maggie Hobach from Charleston, South Carolina was the instructor, and the Plein Air San Angelo (PASA) painters joined up with travelers from all over Texas to paint in the open air.

Plein Air is French for ‘in the open air,’ and this type of artistry has roots that date back to the mid 19th Century. Open-air painting has continued throughout the ages both here and abroad. Locally, Christoval is the Plen Air haven, a status it’s held since the ‘20s.

Hence, the Plein Air Painter Workshop’s next destination on the South Concho River in Christoval on Sunday.

Barbara Rallo organized this particular workshop to coincide with the Artwalk.

“I want to see the arts grow here,” she explained. “This is a seed for things to come in San Angelo.”

While this workshop drew in out-of-towners, PASA normally has get-togethers for sketching and paintings.

If you’re interested in Plein Air Painting, give Tom Orsak a call at (325) 659-0993