The State of WIPAPA: 2019

Good Morning!

I hope you are all outside painting this spring! As I believe it is the fastest way to learn to paint!!

I am posting to give you a status update on WIPAPA.  Last year was particularly difficult for my family and I, leaving me with very little time to paint let alone deal with WIPAPA.  The only commitment I was able to keep was to keep the calendar of events up to date on this blog. This upcoming year doesn't look like things are letting up.

IMPORTANT: If you sent me a check for dues last year or this I have not cashed them. Until we have someone step forward to administer WIPAPA please do not send any further dues. I am removing the form from this blog.

It is my sincere hope that you will find artists near you and go out to paint together!

I'll see you out there!!

Wendie Thompson

I am posting all competitions in the state as soon as I have a link to them for 2019. If you know of any others please let me know asap! This is what I have so far:

2019 WISCONSIN PLEIN AIR COMPETITIONS

• June 1-8 Cedarburg
• June 20-23 Oshkosh
• June 26-30 Jefferson
• July 21-27 Door County
• Aug 7-10 Mineral Point
• Aug 8-10 West Bend
• Aug 17 Pewaukee

Thompson Home Open Paint Day Nov 25th!

Hey you guys!

Time for the annual gathering at the Thompson Home November 25th...Saturday after Thanksgiving. As always we will begin at 8AM.

I will put on some coffee so you can stop in if you wish or simply go out to paint. Door will be open for the bathroom.

All are welcome!

We will gather for lunch and critique at 12:30.

I will provide a large pot of soup!

Please bring some bread, fruit, salad or dessert to share. 

Address: N1289 State Rd 67

8 miles north of Oconomowoc

5 miles south of Neosho

Coming out of Oconomowoc it is the first driveway on the left past hwy EE

Please park on the frontage road by St John's Church!

WIPAPA: Open Paint Monches Perennial Farm APR 22nd

Open Paint: Saturday, April 22, 2017

Monches Farm
5890 Monches Road
Colgate, WI 53017

8:30 AM To 12:30 PM
12:30 PM join fellow painters for a
friendly critique.
Bring a bag lunch.

Please remember to park clear in the back
on the grassy lot!!

http://www.monchesfarm.com/

Questions? Text Kathleen Flaherty
414-861-7734

WIPAPA opportunity!

East Troy - Annual Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival

The Village of East Troy is inviting artists to come PLEIN AIR paint on Saturday, May 6, 2017 starting at 9 am.

Participating artists can sell their work and no commissions are being requested.

There is no entry fee and no awards. 

Artists are to meet in the Village Square and are free to stay as long as they like. East Troy is hosting a Chalk Art Festival for grade school students the day before and would like to combine that with Plein Air painting on Saturday. We are trying to build this into an annual art festival. The goal is to educate the community and to get kids interested in art. Thanks for your support.

Randy Timms

 Map of East Troy Village Square

East Troy needs a firm commitment that artists will show up to paint on Saturday, May 6. Please respond to Mark Rosolek by this Friday, March 31, if you have interest in painting at this event. East Troy needs to print flyers for the event.

Important WIPAPA meeting in Cedarburg Friday June 17th 3-4:30!

WIPAPA will be having an important brief meeting in Cedarburg during the Cedarburg Event! We have a future to discuss!!! Please plan to attend if you are a current member, past member or considering membership!

We will be meeting on Friday June 17th from 3-4:30 in the Community Room at the Cedarburg Public Library at W63 N589 Hanover Ave. This meeting is after the Cedarburg Gems turn in and before the Demo and cookout.

Hope to see you there!!

Wendie Thompson

IMPT: A Note From Wendie Concerning the Future of WIPAPA

In 2006 I started instigating the beginnings of WIPAPA . Having been bitten by the plein air bug and seeing the advantages of another state organization of plein air artists and the advantages of artists painting in community we dug in and begin to build. Together we have created one of the most active plein air organizations in the country!

• I see plein air as cutting edge in terms of creating new collectors of original art therefore changing culture in our state. 
• I see children growing up in communities where it has now become normal to see artists painting on the streets.
• I see organizations and communities benefiting financially when artists descend. 
• I see an enormous body of cherished paintings documenting this beautiful state we live in reminding their owners that this is what they felt, smelled and saw.
• I see artists who normally work in isolation gathering together in friendship, helping each other by sharing artists secrets freely, forging friendships across economic, political, racial and social boundaries. 
• I have seen some of you become so skilled as to begin to be seen on a national level.

 Plein Air painting has done all of this good. But there is so much more for us to do!!!

You may have heard that at the WIPAPA holiday party in January I announced that December 31st 2016 would be my final day as the day to day administrator of WIPAPA. I have loved serving you but have had some life changes and I believe for the organization to grow others need to contribute. I am not planning to leave the group however I see myself as more of an Ambassador after that.

It is my hope that a number of you would be willing to step up and serve on a board. The group may wish to review and update the current mission statement as well. To this end we will be using many tools to ascertain a vision for the future of WIPAPA. I am telling you this now so that I can pass on the knowledge I have gained before I leave.

Here are just some of the tasks that will need warm bodies:

• Blog administrator: the blog acts as a communication tool or clearinghouse for all things "Plein Air" in Wisconsin. It's possible for more than one person to do this.

• Website Director: The group may wish to expand it's web presence in this way.

• Event Director: We have had anywhere from 1 to 3 juried shows at various venues each year. This could also be broken down into parts for more than one person. Over the years I have found ways to simplify this process immensely!

• Monthly open paint day Facilitator: Finding venues and announcing them.

• We could use both a Bookkeeper and an Accountant: I have always believed we should become a Not for profit but you should decide that.

• Ambassador: I would still be willing to do the work of meeting with communities to help them develop new events...I spend a great deal of time with this.

Please be thinking about these things as we move into the plein air season and watch for communications this year that may ask for your opinions. It's your group...lets make it even better!!

Please share this info!

The plein truth, 
Wendie Thompson

Happy New Year...Time for our Annual Party!

It's January! 

That means it's WIPAPA PARTY time!

Where: 12024 W Euclid Ave, West Allis WI 53227 (Kriste Sankey's house...Thank you!)
When: Saturday January 23rd 4-8PM
Why: Cause that's just what we do in January!
Who: You and anyone else interested in WIPAPA

What you should bring (POT LUCK):

Last names A-M bring a main dish to pass
                  N-Z bring a dessert, salad, Fruit

Art Exchange (for those who wish to participate)
Bring a wrapped painting to give away and we will have a grab bag exchange!

Brief business meeting (I promise...I have some announcements)

Congratulations To the Winners of the First Annual Plein Air at the Fair!

What an amazing fun time painting at Plein Air at the Fair...The Wisconsin State Fair's 1st annual event! Congratulations to all the winners!

GRAND CHAMPION
Lothar Speer

Lothar Speer
Grand Champion

Scott Hefti
Reserve Champion

Stephen Wysocki Award of Merit

Terry Fischer
Best Fair Animal Award

D.K. Palacek
Best Fair Food Award

Les Leffingwell
Best Fair Action Award

Michael Pintar
Best Fair Entertainment Award

Congratulations!! 2nd Annual Paint The Point Award Winners!

2nd Annual Paint The Point Award Winners!

From Wednesday, August 5 though Saturday, August 8, nearly 50 artists from 7 states created over 160 paintings in 3 event categories during the Second Annual Paint The Point plein air competition, show and sale in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. A three-person jury team had a very difficult, but gratifying assignment, reviewing all the wonderful art that was created. Here are the award winners! Main Event, Best of Show, Presence, Lori Beringer.  Main Event, First Prize, Weathered Red, Lisa Stauffer Main Event, Second Prize Pendarvis House, James Faecke. Main Event, Third Prize 334 High Street, John Preston  Main Event, Honorable Mention, Morning on Clowney Street, Jan Norsetter Nocturne, First Prize, Sybil, Nyle Gordan Nocturne, Second Prize, Mineral Point at Midnight, Thomas Buchs Nocturne, Third Prize, Night Station, Stephanie Weidner Quick Paint, First Prize, Morning Glare, John Preston Quick Paint, Second Prize, Morning Tower, Richard Abraham Quick Paint, Third Prize, Early Morning Light on the Depot, Spencer Meagher YUMYUM Award, Cast Shadows, Spencer Meagher Thanks again for supporting the 2nd Annual Paint The Point! Your involvement helps Arts Mineral Point fulfill our mission to Nurture and Promote the Arts in Mineral Point.

Congratulations Winners 2015 Edge of the Rock Plein Air Competition Beloit!

Best in Show - $1,500 - Purchase Prize donated by major underwriter, Regal.
Winner: “Transformation” by Allison Rae Nichols (Chicago, IL)

Pride of Beloit - $1,000 - Purchase Prize donated by North American Tool Corporation

Winner: “Tribute to Vernon Schaefer #2” by Kyle Martin (Rock Springs, WI)

Friends Award - $1,000 - Purchase Prize donated by Friends of Riverfront

Winner: “Strong Building” by Joshua Hess (Reedsburg, WI)

Beloit College Patron of the Arts Award - $750 - Purchase Prize donated by Beloit College.

Winner: “Power Plant Dam” by Thomas Buchs (Waukesha, WI)

Spirit of the Arts - $500 - Purchase Prize donated by Visit Beloit

Winner: “Flower Power” by James Richter (Janesville, WI)

People’s Choice (Professional Division) - $200 

Winner: “Shirland Avenue Bridge” by Barbara Vater (Middleton, WI)

Honorable Mention - $150

Winner: “That Monet Feeling in Riverside Park” by Debra Rollo (Waukesha, WI)

Honorable Mention - $150

Winner: “Grand Evening” by R.L. Weber (Belvidere, IL)

Honorable Mention - $150

Winner: “Grand Perspective” by Richard Dorbin (Milwaukee, WI)

Honorable Mention - $150 

Winner: “Under the Trestle” by Tim Syring (LaCrosse, WI)

---------

Next Generation Division (Age 13-19)

First place - $100

People’s Choice - $50
Winner: “A Stone’s Throw Away” by Annie-Laurie Zanter (Edgerton, WI)

Honorable Mention - $50

Winner: “Celebration” by McKenzie Harris (Beloit, WI)

How do I Find Some Artists Painting?? or What is Glympse?

 Okay...so you drive to say, Cedarburg to catch some artists painting. Maybe you're an artist interested in seeing what the buzz is all about with this "Plein Air" thing. Or maybe you're bringing your kids to grow their appreciation of art or feed a budding talent. Or just maybe your a savvy collector of plein air work and you want to see the process and meet the artists.


You could drive around town and you will most likely see some artists. But you know there are 150 artists painting for 10 days and you want to see more. Or you are looking for one particular artist whose work you follow.


Well we have been working on a way to connect the artists with the people looking for them and are ready to beta test it this year. We have found a free tool/app for smartphones called Glympse and we have a number of artists who are willing to share their painting locations using this tool during Cedarburg this year.

https://www.glympse.com/what-is-glympse

How to use GLYMPSE?

Instructions for ART Lovers:

On your phone search for WIPAPA.blogspot.com. This is the Wisconsin Plein Air Painters Association website. On my phone I need to scroll all the way to the bottom and hit the button that says "view web version". At the top right you will find a map that says Glympse. 

You will see little posts where artists are. If it says "expired" it simply means they have moved from there and have not yet found a new location....or maybe they are taking a break! It's that easy!

Instructions for ARTISTS:

Go to the app store for your phone...search for Glympse and download it...it's free! Please do this well before the event and play with it a bit to make sure you know how to do it!

When you have found a place to paint then

1. Go to the Glympse app on your phone

2. Hit share location. 

3.Then search for the group !WIPAPA (you must enter the ! first) and join it. 

4.Then select a time amount up to 4 hours that you will be there.

5. Hit share. You will show up on the map on the WIPAPA blog. After the time you selected has lapsed your flag says "expired". If you wish to disappear from the map altogether then exit the app.

How fun is that? Please join us and help us connect artists and art lovers!!!

PARTY! January 24th: Pot Luck, Art Exchange and all around good time!

January in Plein Air Country!

Seems like a great time for a party huh??

Who: Any WIPAPA member or anyone considering membership

When: January 24th Noon-4

Where: Sage Arts Studio

5818 W Forest Home

Milwaukee

What to bring? 

A folding chair

Pot Luck: If your last name begins with A-M bring a side or a dessert  if it's N-Z bring a main dish! Everyone bring something to drink...I will bring coffee!

Art Exchange: If you would like to participate in the art exchange bring a piece of your art wrapped so no one can see it!

Favorite Plein Air training video

2015: A Blank Canvas! Happy New Year!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Mike Pintar Atwater Park, Shorewood

First I want to thank you all for your part in WIPAPA.

To the Artists:  Everytime any of you are outside painting and visible to another person it helps to establish plein air painting in our state. I think we have made great progress in 2014. More and more I am hearing "Oh I've heard of that." instead of "What are you doing?" 

To our Collectors: THANK YOU! Where would we be without you?

To the event Organizers!: Oh my goodness! How hard you work! We see you! We THANK YOU!!!

Barb Hayden at the Pewaukee Classic Boat Show

There were 16 competitions in Wisconsin last year and I know we will be adding to that list this year. The first one of the year is a WINTER event in Mineral Point the first week in February! I have started a 2015 list of events on the blog. If you are an event director please get me your link asap! Many artists plan work schedules and vacation time around your events and some need to put in for vacation months before!!! So if you know you are planning an event even if your site has a page saying "Save this Date!" I need that link from you!!

Did you know there is currently a Plein Air Exhibit at the Charles Allis Museum? It will hang until January 25th so you still have time to see it!

http://www.charlesallis.org/exhibitions.html

Also Watch this blog and mark your calendars for January 24: Our annual Winter Bash Party and Art Exchange!

LETS PAINT!!!

Your current Instigator, Wendie Thompson

Congratulations Point of Color Winners!!

1st Place
Thomas Buchs
Behind the Labyrinth

On display from June 27th thru August 22nd at the Monroe Arts Center Frehner Gallery these pieces and more! Stop in and take a look!! (https://www.monroeartscenter.com/eventdetails?eid=98)

fyi:The Monroe Arts Center will be closed on Friday and Saturday, July 4 and 5 

2nd Place
Sybil Brauneis Klug
Glow over the Seine

3rd Place
Sherri Thomas
Into the Sun

Honorable Mention
Barb Hayden
Golden Trail