By Tim Badgley
Dick Yerrington of Pemaquid Point, a member of Plein Air Painters – The Real Thing, at work on his painting of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Newcastle, July 11. (Tim Badgley photo) |
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Most of the 25 members of Plein Air Painters – The Real Thing turned out with their easels and brushes in hand July 10 to paint Glidden Street in Newcastle.
Sitting or standing on lawns or the sidewalk, the artists painted in a variety of media, using oil, acrylic, watercolor, and pastel in their plein air or open air setting.
According to the group’s leader, Carol Smith, of Damariscotta, the organization has been in existence for about 25 years and is made up of about a dozen each of year-round residents and summer people.
Smith said each Thursday from mid-June to the beginning of October the group paints at a different outdoor location. When it rains they still paint together at an undisclosed indoor location.
According to Smith, what she values most in the group is friendship.
“It’s a very close, supportive group of people,” Smith said. “It’s more than just a painting group because we’ve been together for such a long time.”
Smith sat on a Glidden Street lawn overlooking the Damariscotta River along with four other painters. Next to her was Carol Papa who splits her time between Englewood, Fla. and Bremen and has been painting with the group for a number of years.
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Amy Papa, granddaughter of Plein Air Painters – The Real Thing member Carol Papa of Damariscotta shows the landscape watercolor she painted July 11 on the group’s outing to Glidden Street in Newcastle. (Tim Badgley photo) |
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For Papa, the group provides a family outing. Her granddaughter, Amy, was sitting further down the hill toward the river painting a watercolor landscape.
“This isn’t the first time Amy has joined me,” Papa said. “We’ve painted together several times now with the group.”
Smith said many of the members have been painting with the group for 20 years.
Each member pays a fee at the beginning of the season. From that a donation is made to area schools and libraries.
“Each year we pick the gift and choose the recipient by voting,” Smith said.
According to Smith, the painters have given art books to Skidompha Library, and Farnsworth Museum memberships to several area libraries.
“Last year we participated in giving $1,000 in art and general supplies to four different schools,” Smith said.
The schools who received the supplies were Great Salt Bay Community School in Damariscotta, Lincoln Academy in Newcastle, Bristol Consolidated School, and Jefferson Village School.
Plein Air Painters – The Real Thing has a group show at 317 Main Community Music Center, 317 Main St., Yarmouth, through the end of July, Smith said.
Member Harry Beskind, of Pemaquid, opened a solo show July 11 at the Sotheby’s International Realty office at 170 Main St. in Damariscotta.
“Of course we get a lot of aesthetic value just from the experience of painting and getting to be outdoors,” Smith said.
According to Barbara Youtz, who was seated at the sidewalk opposite St. Andrew’s, painting captures a moment in time.
“It makes you feel good when you look at it and remember what a nice day you had,” Youtz said.
Youtz said the group is about much more than painting because members become involved in each other’s lives and provide support during illnesses and the loss of loved ones.
“We’ve grown together as friends,” Youtz said. “That’s what it’s really all about.”
Plein Air Painters – The Real Thing group leader Carol Smith, of Damariscotta, worked on painting the landscape viewed from her perch on a Glidden Street lawn in Newcastle overlooking the Damariscotta River July 11. (Tim Badgley photo) |
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