This article is from page 27 of the 2007-07-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 27 JPG
LISDOONVARNA will play host to an Irish debut this September as Ireland first ever outdoor painting competition takes place in the Bur- ren Painting Centre.
Outdoor painting competition or ‘paint-outs’ have became popular in America in recent years but this is the first one which has ever been organised on this side of the Atlantic. The competition sees a large group of artists gather together on one day to paint and offer different artistic takes on the same moment in time.
“It’s an opportunity for good ama- teur artist to come together and paint for one day. Each person who comes to the day will have their canvass or paper stamped in the morning and they will sent out to three location
around Lisdoonvarna,” said Chris O’Neill of the Burren Painting Cen- nko
“They can choose any landscape the can find in those three locations. They can paint all day, submit their work and the judging will be carried out the next morning.”
The judging panel includes Irish painter Rosemary Carr and water colour expert Charles Harper. Paint- ers will be allowed to enter two painting in either oil and acrylic, pure water colour or mixed media, pastel and gouache.
“It’s for good amateurs. This means if you are a profession and you earn your livelihood through art then you are not eligible. We have decided to use the Government criteria of the artists tax exemption as a way of deciding who is amateur and who is
not. If they are earning their income through art and qualify for the tax exemption then they are not eligi- ble for this competition,’ continued Chris.
“We have had great support from the local community in putting the competition together. Michael Cun- ningham from Gort sponsored the main prize. Jordan’s Supermarket, Marian Petty Solicitors, the Road- side Tavern, Hayse Printers in En- nistymon and Burkes Builders have all offered great support. The whole local business community has been great as have the Lisdoonvarna Com- munity Council who have helped greatly with all the paperwork.”
The Burren Painting Centre was established in 1974 and has been at- tracting budding artist from Ireland, Europe and America to the Burren
for more than three decades. Courses run each year in Lisdoonvarna from May to August, with ‘away’ trip or- ganised all over the world in April and October.
The Outdoor Landscape Paint- ing Competition will take place on September |. For more information contact the Burren Painting Centre in Lisdoonvarna on 7074208.