North Tahoe Plein Air

September 9 - 13, 2009

Formerly known as “Seasons of Martis," this year’s plein air event has been expanded to include all of beautiful North Lake Tahoe.  Artists will be painting on location Wednesday – Friday, September 9-11.  The silent auction, demonstrations and public sale will take place at the Village at Northstar on Saturday and Sunday, September 12 and 13, the same weekend as the Autumn Food and Wine Festival.  The show and sale of these paintings will then move to North Tahoe Arts in Tahoe City and continue until October 18. 

“Plein air” painting is painting outdoors quickly in order to catch the light and sense of a location.  This event identifies the unique beauty, topography and ecosystem of the Lake Tahoe Basin.  Jean Stern and Craig Mitchell selected the participating artists from a large number of extremely talented California and Nevada artists.  Judges at the event will be ZeeZee Mott, Craig Mitchell, and Paul Kratter.

Funding for this event is provided by the Northstar Foundation and benefits North Tahoe Arts, the Truckee-Donner Land Trust and the Community Fund of North Lake Tahoe.

For more information contact tahoe.pleinair@gmail.com

"Martis Valley," Michele de Braganca

Paul Kratter, "Dark Sky"

Susan Levitsky, "Truckee Gold"

Seasons of Martis

October 1 through 5, 2008

The second annual Seasons of Martis Plein Air Painting Event, Gala Artists' Reception and Silent Auction, and Public Sale was a big success.  32 noted local and regional artists gathered to paint various locations throughout the beautiful Martis Valley from Wednesday, October 1, through Saturday, October 4.   Plein air painting is painting a landscape quickly in order to catch the light and sense of a location.  This event focused on capturing the unique beauty, topography and ecosystem of the Martis Valley.  On Saturday morning, Jean Stern, noted art historian and Director of the Irvine Museum, gave a lecture to a standing room only audience.  His lecture, “The First 100 Years of Plein  Air Painting in California,” discussed plein air painting and prepared the crowd for the Silent Auction and Public Sale.  The Gala Artists' Reception and Silent Auction on Saturday night were well attended and  a number of paintings were sold that night or the following day during the Public Sale.

We were pleased and honored that Jean Stern and noted artists Craig Mitchell and Zee Zee Mott acted as judges for the event.  Jean Stern and noted artist Kevin Macpherson selected the participating artists from the applications received in April.

"Morning at Martis Creek," Randall Stauss

Artists' Choice, 2008

“First Light on The Meadow,” Paul Kratter

Artists’ Choice, 2007

North Tahoe Arts would like to thank Tahoe Mountain Resorts Foundation and the Northstar Foundation for their generous support for this event.  Savior Fare, importer of Sennelier Paints, provided the prizes for the award paintings.

A portion of the proceeds from art sales from the event are being donated both to North Tahoe Arts and to the Truckee Donner Land Trust (www.tdlandtrust.org) .

For more information, please visit:   www.northstarattahoe.com

Paul Kratter, SOM 2008