For Hometown News
Outdoor enthusiasts and art lovers will have the opportunity to come together in support of a good cause Oct. 21-27, at Canaveral National Seashore in New Smyrna Beach.
The third annual "Canaveral Seashore Paint Out," hosted by the Friends of Canaveral, will continue the Friends legacy of fundraising to enhance the environmental education program and to further the Seashore's goal of teaching the value of conservation and stewardship to youth.
Twenty-seven landscape artists will set up their easels and pull out their brushes to document the landscape and culture of the seashore and surrounding areas.
There also will be two days when the artists will paint at various locations in the New Smyrna Beach Waterfront Loop, such as historic Canal Street, Flagler Avenue, Old Fort Park, City Marina and Riverside Park.
John Caggiano's painting "Down and Around" was chosen as the poster art for this year's paint out.
"Down and Around" was painted at the end of Canaveral National Seashore, below the area at the turnabout. Mr. Caggiano remembered he had been looking for a new location to paint. He walked down the dirt road that he knew stretched for a mile or so. The vegetation quickly became thick, blocking all views, so he turned back and then he saw it.
"My composition for 'Down and Around' was right there before me - two palms on the right, one on the left, road in between ... perfect," Mr. Caggiano said. "With a little push here and there on the design and composition, I began to paint in the 90-plus degree heat. The paint flowed. My spirits rose. The painting was a success."
Throughout the six-day Canaveral Seashore Plein Air Paint Out event, there will be many opportunities to enjoy the seashore and to be a part of the creation of art. Visitors can talk to the artists as they paint unique works of art at the many picturesque locations.
The artists will be painting from dawn to dusk Oct. 21-27 during the paint out, and all of the works created will be for sale. As the paintings are completed, they will be hung in an on-site "wet room gallery" (open 10 a.m-5 p.m.) at the Eldora House at Canaveral Seashore and the newly remodeled Chamber of Commerce in New Smyrna Beach. There also will be opportunities for art lovers and patrons to view and purchase paintings completed each day during special sponsored or ticketed evening events.
For information, visit FriendsOfCanaveral.com.