Plein Air Painting in the "Gateway to the Driftless Region"

Plein air news from Minnesota: See who took home prizes at this year’s Red Wing Arts Plein Air Festival. Is anyone you know included?

From the organizers:

Imagine painters situated along the Seine in Paris and transport them to the banks and bluffs of the beautiful Mississippi and you’ll get Red Wing Arts Plein Air, southern Minnesota’s only outdoor painting festival. The 16th anniversary 2022 Red Wing Arts Plein Air features 34 acclaimed artists who had 12 days between June 11-23 to complete up to three paintings, which were judged by nationally recognized plein air artist Bob Upton for $5,000 in cash prizes.

"Plein Air takes art out of the gallery and onto sidewalks, parks, bluff, and riverbanks for passersby to admire," said Emily Guida Foos, Executive Director, Red Wing Arts. "Our Plein Air Event is about this unique area that is the gateway to the Driftless Region. The Red Wing community continues to embrace this event and enjoys watching the artists paint the scenes in front of them and purchase these paintings from the culminating exhibit."

Artists paint in and around Red Wing, on the shores of the Mississippi/Lake Pepin (Minnesota or Wisconsin sides) with the many stunning views either of the bluffs or from the bluffs, as well as the historic downtown, parks and Victorian homes. Red Wing Plein Air activities offer a rare opportunity for locals and visitors to view artists "in action" and to purchase original scenic artwork of the area.

The Red Wing Arts Plein Air exhibit includes nearly 120 works that are judged, hung and available for purchase in the Red Wing Arts Depot Gallery through August 7.

And the Winners Are …

Dan Guida Best of Show: "Lake View Farm" by Richard Abraham, oil on canvas panel, 11 x 14 in.

Second Place: "Morning Over Red Wing" by Christopher Copeland, oil, 11 x 14 in.

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Third Place: "Shadows of Maiden Rock" by Dan Wiemer, watercolor and acrylic, 19 x 23 in.

Best Sense of Place, Sponsored by Outdoor Painters of Minnesota (OPM): "Sumner Street and Manypenny Ave" by Michelle Wegler, pastel, 10 x 13 in.

Best Sense of Red Wing, Sponsored by Red Wing Shoes: "Morning for Industry" by Diane Foster, oil, 16 x 20 in.

Best Watercolor, "Dog Day" by James Turner, watercolor, 12 x 18 in.

Best Oil: "Sumac at Frontenac" by Kelly Schamberger, oil on panel, 8 x 10 in.

Best Pastel: "In To Hay Creek" by Lisa Stauffer, pastel and watercolor, 16 x 12 in.

Best Collection: Hannah C. Heyer, "Taking it Slow," oil on linen, 14 x 11 in.; "Rattlesnake Bluff Through the Trees," oil on linen, 11 x 14 in.; "Strawberry Moon Sundae," oil on linen, 9 x 12 in.

Best Nocturne: "Levee Road, Red Wing" by Todd Schabel, oil, 12 x 18 in.

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Artist Spotlight: Keary Kautzer

artist Keary Kautzer painting En Plein Air

Where do you find inspiration for painting?

Keary Kautzer: I find inspiration to do a painting from just about everywhere. It could be some flowers in my backyard. Most days I will only travel a quarter mile to paint along the river at Maywood Park. Once I’m on location, no matter where it is, I get excited knowing I’m going to do a painting. I begin by taking a short hike looking for something that grabs my attention. I prefer painting on sunny days and I look for a scene that has strong contrasting light, such as sunlight along the river or the glow of tall grass in a field.

I also enjoy painting people doing their daily work routines. I want to capture a moment in time and tell a story as to what the day was like or what the people were doing in the scene. In essence I’m recording history, something in particular that happened on that day.

As a plein air artist I just need to get outside and enjoy life. Painting makes me happy and is great for my health and wellbeing.

How did you get started and then develop your career?

Keary Kautzer: One morning while I was walking to my elementary school, a buddy and I decided to do some chalk art on the sidewalk at a random location. We drew a nude woman with large breasts on the sidewalk which happened to be in front of the principal’s house. The principle was upset and made us scrub the sidewalk clean. I learned that there is an appropriate time and place for art.

My elementary school had an art teacher who only came to our school once a week to teach art class. Of all the lessons I had all week, my favorite class was that art class. I developed a love for opportunities to create art.

My desire to learn more about art has never stopped. I read every book I can find regarding art. I was fortunate to have James Michael, a National Watercolor Society artist, live in my hometown of Sheboygan. l studied and painted with James Michael for ten years. I was like a sponge watching his every brush stroke.

Then I began exhibiting my art and participating in plein air events. I now teach watercolor painting classes and have oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings on exhibit at Plum Bottom Galleries in Door County, Wisconsin and on my website. I have a blog on my website and I post my recent paintings on my Facebook page.

I bring my painting gear with me everywhere I go because I want to do a painting every day. I never know where I will find inspiration to paint.

Keary Kautzer, "Camp Fire," oil, 8 x 16 in., plein air, available through the artist

Keary Kautzer, "Riverbend," 11 x 15 in., watercolor, plein air, available through the artist

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