Paint Out Wells-next-the-Sea 15-17 September 2017

Wells hosts its third Plein Air Art Event

Following the huge success and beautiful beach sunrise at Paint Out Wells in 2015 and the weather-challenged multi-location 2016 – great for bold plein air artists, Paint Out announces the Wells-next-the-Sea 2017 third-year art competition on North Norfolk‘s colourful coastline. James Colman is delighted to confirm the third pop-up guerrilla painting packed weekend from September 15th-17th and public sunrise ‘paint out‘ September 17th including a food and art festival on The Buttlands.

Wells Submit entry   Wells Rules   Register Interest   Public paint outs

“Artists with their easels, paints and sunhats will descend on North Norfolk’s bustling coastal port of Wells-next-the Sea for a two-and-a-half-day juried art competition and exhibition. We believe Wells to provide the ideal backdrop for a coastal outdoor art competition with its variety of subject matter – beach, harbour, salt marsh, and its close proximity in both directions to North Norfolk’s other coastal villages and landmarks.” – James Colman, Paint Out founder

Artists | Competition Entry | Events CalendarExhibition & Art Sale | Schedule | SponsorsSunrise | WeatherWorkshops

Join up or come and see over two-dozen artists in action around the streets, quayside and beach at Wells, ‪Norfolk‬.

Our hub for the weekend event is the Congregation Hall (NR23 1EZ), between Clubbs Lane and Newgate Lane, opposite the Buttlands (NR23 1EX), however, we may also be using the Albatros, Quayside, and Beach Cafe as meeting points.

Selected Plein Air Artists 2016

Artist Mary MacCarthy at Paint Out Wells 2015 sunrise
Artist Mary MacCarthy at Paint Out Wells 2015 sunrise

Some 20 artists were selected to compete at Wells-next-the-Sea in challenging light and weather, from sunrise to sunset, from sunshine to predicted downpour.

Karen Adams, John Behm, Julie Bradwell, Mary Brady, Alfie CarpenterJack Godfrey, Jane Hodgson, Andrew Horrod, Jerome Hunt, Brian Korteling, SuE Mann, Vicki Norman, Eloise O’Hare, Tanya Pawsey, Michael Richardson, Christina Sabberton, Jennifer Sendall, Jenny Swann Homewood, Pat Tinsley, Will Topley

The Sunday 19th 6:36am sunrise and even earlier pre-dawn for early risers was a publicpaint out‘ open to competition and public artists. Members of the public were able to join the artists on painting workshops, at a public sunrise event and at the artists brunch aboard the Albatros, or watching them paint live on the Beach, about the town, or on the Buttlands, Sunday afternoon at the art and food fest.

Workshop   Wells Schedule   Public paint out & brunch

Art & Painting Workshops

Student at Michael Richardson Art Workshops at Paint Out Wells 2015 Photo by Katy Jon Went
Student at Michael Richardson Art Workshops at Paint Out Wells 2015

As an optional extra to competing artists and also open to non-competition painters plein air painting workshops may be run. Details to follow later. 

Pre-dawn Paint Out on the Quayside

The Albatros at 5.45am, Wells quayside
Wells-next-the-Sea 2015 beach sunrise public Paint Out, Photo by Katy J Went

In addition to the 2-days Wells Paint Out competition, the weekend event will also feature a mass open to the public pre-dawn Paint Out on the quayside among the boat masts and black-purple-orange early morning silhouettes and crepuscular light at Wells on the Sunday morning of September the 17th, 6-10am.

More details and to book your place in the public Quayside paint out.

Competition features and benefits

John Behm painting on Wells Beach at Paint Out Wells 2015, Photo by Katy Jon Went
John Behm painting on Wells Beach at Paint Out Wells 2015, Photo by KJW

Paint Out events give artists and public the chance to engage with each other, to paint or use other media en plein air, in full gaze of public view.

“There is no better way to learn how to paint than to be able to watch and talk to people actually painting. It is the opposite of watching paint dry.” – Will Buckley & James Colman, founding organisers of Paint Out

Apart from having an inquisitive audience, the 3-hours per work timed sessions apply both competition and creative pressures, that, at the similar event in Norwich each year, surprised the judges at the range and quality of submitted works on display.

Albatros, Congregation Hall & Buttlands

The Albatros moored at Wells-next-the-Sea
The Albatros moored at Wells-next-the-Sea

The hub of operations and social hangout for the jury-selected artists will be a large quayside boat standing out and attracting the public’s attention to follow a trail map and go in search of the art being made on the spot in the surrounding locales. The Albatros is a now a central feature of Wells’ harbour and has its own tales to tell. In addition to the Albatros, landlubbers have access to the Congregational Hall at the north end of The Buttlands.

Wells-next-the-Sea

Wells-next-the-Sea Norfolk town sign
Wells-next-the-Sea town sign

Wells was chosen for its local and national popularity as a tourist resort, one with varied views from beach to harbour, idyllic inland lanes, and 30-mile proximity to Norwich.

Read more about the history and diversity that Wells offers here.

The artists will be given free rein to paint where they wish among the many and diverse locations that Wells has to offer.

Call to Artists

Artist Jane Hodgson at Paint Out Wells, Beach, Norfolk
Jane Hodgson painting on Wells Beach at Paint Out Wells 2015, Photo by Katy W

Prizes, artist companionship, iconic views, and the late summer sun – it is hoped, aim to draw national and international artists to this wonderful seaside town this September. Artists can view the rules and requirements, register their interest, and apply to take part.

Wells Submit entry   Wells Rules   Workshop   Wells Schedule   Public paint out

Artists are also welcome to register interest in or apply to take part in the Paint Out Norwich competition, that runs the following month, 14-18 October 2017.

 

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