Artists from around the world will create 2,500 pieces of art in Wexford this week at Europe’s largest outdoor Art Festival.
 
Organisers say it is the biggest festival hosted to date with the largest number of artists attending in the six years of the festival with artists from as far away as Australia, the United States, Europe, and all across Ireland traveling to participate.
 
Commenting on the festival, Chairperson Tony Robinson says, “We are overwhelmed with the level of interest that the festival has received this year from artists and the public who love to see it. 170 artists are taking part with over 20 from the U.S.A. where plein air painting is phenomenally popular.

“These artists are very skilled at working quickly before the light changes. People are always fascinated to watch painters painting and see different styles. The calibre of some of the artists and what they can create in an hour or two is really amazing. We are very lucky to have them here.”
 
The concept of an ‘Art in the Open’ festival is that all of the work is made on location. Artists arrive at a ‘Paint-out’ with blank canvases, which are stamped on the back. Over a couple of hours at the ‘paint out’ locations hours they attempt to capture the light and atmosphere of the Irish countryside. At the culmination of the festival, the best 250 paintings are selected for exhibition with artists competing for over €5000 in awards.
 
Seven ‘paint-out’ locations are chosen for 2013, including Carne Beach, Ballymore Farm near Gorey, Ballyhack harbour, Newtownbarry House, Hook Head, Enniscorthy, Wexford and Screen village.
 
The artists will also take part in workshops, art lectures, an improvers’ critique, drawing sessions and other artistic and social events. Visitors to Wexford this week are invited to come along to the ‘paint-outs’ to watch the artists at work, appreciating the creative process at first hand as a prelude to the festival exhibition of paintings at Greenacres Gallery, Wexford, from Monday, August 5.
 
'Art in the Open’ festival runs from July 29 to August 6. For further details see visitwexford.ie.