Painting 'En Plein Air' in Los Gatos!

Have you seen the painters? The artists around town this past week, today?

If you haven't yet, take a look around Vasona Park, local wineries and parks to see if you can spot one of the 39 juried fine artists who have descended upon the beauty of the West Valley, in particular, Los Gatos, to paint al fresco, or as the French say en plein air.

You'll find several artistes, peintres from around the country and the local area in the downtown area working on their easels, brushes and palettes on hand creating on canvas original pieces. Many of them will win coveted awards for their work.

The Los Gatos Plein Air fine art exhibit and sale, sponsored by the Los Gatos Morning Rotary Club, takes place today and tomorrow, June 21-22.

Started in 2009, this is the show's fifth year. More than 1,000 people are expected to attend tomorrow's event where the artists will sell their work, with a percentage of the proceeds going to the club's Charitable Foundation, according to event co-chairwoman Carol Waitte.


The event has joined the increasingly popular circuit of plein air art shows in the nation, including the famous Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational and others presented in Sonoma, Telluride and Easton, MD.


Organizers' goal is to make the event a destination show for the Bay Area.The artist's works of arts will be sold at a VIP reception and silent auction tonight 7-10 p.m. Friday, June 21 at "The Gables," the estate of Barbara and Mark Beck.

Tickets are $100 per person and can be purchased online at wwwlgpleinair.org.

A fine art exhibit and silent auction sale continues tomorrow, Saturday June 22, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Los Gatos Town Plaza.

Admission to the public is free.

The event is possible thanks to the generosity of sponsors like the Stevens Creek BMW dealer and others listed here.