VERO BEACH — The Cultural Council of Indian River County loves Vero Beach, and so do the many artists who endeavor to display its beauty on canvas. More than 40 plein air painters (artists who paint out-of-doors) will show their Valentine’s love, when they converge on Vero Beach the weekend of February 11, 12 and 13 for the Cultural Council’s I Love Vero Beach Plein Air Paint-Out. For three days, fine artists will be painting outdoors, capturing the historic districts, parks and beaches of Vero Beach on canvas. Their framed artwork will be put on sale immediately upon completion, with a percentage of sales to benefit the Cultural Council.
The fun of the I Love Vero Beach paint-out will be in seeing artists at work along the highways and byways of greater Vero Beach. The painters will be on location throughout the area by 9 a.m. each morning of the event. Passersby will have the opportunity to see oil, acrylic, pastel and watercolor paintings come magically to life before their eyes.
Participating artists include Florida residents from Vero Beach, Fort Pierce, Stuart, Miami Beach, Sebastian, Ocala and Safety Harbor as well as artists visiting from Maryland and Massachusetts.
Their completed paintings will be available for sale fresh off the easel. The I Love Vero Beach paint-out sales center will be located in a tent on the grounds of the Vero Beach Masonic Lodge #250, which is located at 1959 14th Avenue (the corner of 14th Avenue and Rte. 60 East). The sales tent will feature an ever-changing display of paintings as artists bring in their work. Artwork will be sold on a first come, first served basis.
The paint-out features fun extras, including the raffle of an11 x 14 inch framed painting entitled, “The Heritage Center,” created especially for the event by premier local artist Dawn Mill. Raffle tickets for the painting, valued at $350, will be priced at 3 for $5.
Additionally, on Saturday, February 12 at 9 a.m. local historian Joan Edwards will lead an I Love Vero Beach walking tour from the Heritage Center, along 14th Avenue and contiguous streets in conjunction with the Cultural Council event.
An ending reception, open to the public, will be held on Sunday, February 13 from 1 to 3 p.m., during which time the winning raffle ticket for the painting will be drawn.
Information: Call Ellen Fischer, event co-chair at (772) 564-2683 or CCIRC Executive Director Mary Jayne Kelly at (772) 770-4857.
