‘The movement is exploding:’ Paint Laurel Plein Air competition makes vibrant comeback

LAUREL, Del.- “The plein air movement is growing big time right now. It really hasn’t been this big since probably back in the impressionist area,” Schulze said.

William Schulze is a Delaware oil painter. “One of the main reasons why I really do enjoy oil is that I can change things. It doesn’t dry on me,” Schulze said.

He was one of nearly 30 award-winning artists from the region and beyond who were in Laurel Saturday for the 2nd annual Plein Air Art Competition. It gives creatives the opportunity to paint outdoors with their medium of choice (oil, watercolor, etc.) and capture the beauty in front of them. This included Laurel’s parks, streets, and various natural areas.

“I like going out to an area where I don’t know what the painting is going to be. You kind of have to walk around and find something. It’s like you’re finding a little treasure almost,” Schulze said.

The event is part of the One Laurel, One Day Community Celebration. Paint Laurel Plein Air is also a collaborative effort between the University of Delaware’s Sustainable Communities Initiative and the Laurel Redevelopment Corporation.

Event Co-Founder Ed Lewandowski says the art community in western Sussex County is often overlooked but events like this change that. “I think a thriving community, one that has energy and passion, is an arts community,” Lewandowski said.

Lewandowski says expanding the reach of art could also be a benefit to the local economy. “When you’re able to marry artwork and artists with the downtown redevelopment project we’re pursing here in Laurel, I think it can pay tremendous dividends to the community and bring more warm bodies downtown.”

Time was also of the essence. Once completed, those masterpieces were placed in a public art walk to be sold. It’s pressure Schulze says he found a way to manage. “If you can push through that, you can make it. I think it actually motivated me to get better,” Schulze said.

Delaware artist N. Taylor Collins was also a part of the competition. She tells 47ABC she’s done over a thousand paintings in the outdoors and now prefers it. “Getting with groups like this, especially in historic locations, is a wonderful thing to grow as an artist and learn the history of your area,” Collins said.

A unique feature of the event is that it also included local students who are aspiring artists.

This year’s event also included $1,500 in artist awards across various categories that included the One Laurel Award, People’s Choice Award, and more.