Preserving the Monastic Landscape through art:
“Monastery Paint Out 2006 ”
When: Artists painted on site all week from Saturday May 13 - Saturday May 20
Where: The Monastery grounds.
Online Gallery of new paintings
The Plein Air Painters of Georgia, Inc. and invited guest artists returned to the Monastery this year for a second all week Paint Out event during the week of May 13 to 20. The artists brought their boxes and easels to paint throughout the grounds to capture the many scenes and compositions of the monastic landscape. There were 27 participating Georgia artists and they produced 180 paintings. Their premiere works are displayed at the monastery and available for purchase. Half of the proceeds from the sale of the works will benefit the monastery.
The remarkable “Monastery Paint Out” is a fundraising event to support the monastery. It is the brainchild of environmentalist Kelly Jordan, chair of the Arabia M ountain Heritage Area Alliance, and renowned painter Suzanne Royal of Plein Air Painters of Georgia, Inc.
Plein Air Painters of Georgia, Inc. (PAPGA), are some of Georgia's most talented and well-known outdoor painters. Some members including their invited guest artists are renowned "studio" portrait artists who take on “Plein Air” as a challenge. It requires a unique gift that comes from a well practiced proficiency to take all the years of aquired skill to be 'immediate and spontaneous' in their art expression. You paint what you see in the “here and now.” It requires a bit of integrity, inner freedom, a connectedness with the subject and yet the detachment to know when to “let go and let be” – indeed a spiritual exercise very much like the monk in contemplation. Perhaps this is why these artists enjoy their time at the monastery. It is truly an artist’s retreat.
Plein Air (French for “in plain air”) painting was developed in France in the mid-19th century and is becoming increasingly popular. Plein Air artists seek the quality of natural light and atmosphere outdoors. Their artwork is in direct response to the beauty they find in nature. Their Plein Air paintings are done completely on location and are sometimes used to develop larger paintings in the studio. They use a variety of media, from oils and watercolors to pastels. The Plein Air Painters of Georgia consists of 22 professional artists dedicated to excellence in painting, whether on location or in the studio. The members are juried and have a broad range of artistic backgrounds, all with a commitment to face the challenges of painting Plein Air. You can learn more about PAPGA on the web: www.pleinairpaintersofga.com. 
PAPGA's artists were attracted to the Monastery last year because of its beautiful vistas, historically significant Norman Gothic architecture, scenic landscape, contemplative atmosphere and the monastic community. This year's event, the Monastery's diverse scenery and added blessing of mostly sunny days resulted in 180 uniquely beautiful works of art by these renowned artists.
This was a unique experience for the monastic community to witness these artists as they worked to capture the deeper realities of nature in their art. The theme of the art work, technique, style, feelings and emotions are just the means the artist implements to convey through color, light, and form, their perception of a deeper reality. Art is indeed spiritual. As one artist said, the true artist sees art in everything; we look beyond the surface, we feel the spirit, and feel the need to communicate that spirit.
On the last day of the event, all the paintings went on sale with an Art Collectors Gala and Wet Paint sale on Sunday May 21. The paintings are on display at a Gallery in the monastery Welcome Centerare and are available for sale.
For further information call (678) 964-2237 or E-mail us at monastery@trappist.net Please type PAINTINGS in the email subject.
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