Imagine 100 artists painting on the streets of downtown Davis – with each artist interpreting the city differently and influencing one another. This is what the Great California Paint Out will be like. It will be held this Saturday. The Great California Paint Out will be working in conjunction with the 10th Annual International Plein Air Painter Worldwide Paint Out.
A hundred different artists, from all backgrounds and styles will come together in downtown Davis to paint together.
“There will be every single kind of style you can imagine,” said gallery owner, John Natsoulas. “People painting with watercolors, people painting with pastels, people painting surrealistically and abstractly. And they’ll be painting every subject from human figures that are walking by, to buildings, to landscapes to still life. You’ve got 100 different minds taking over the whole town.”
There are about 10 UC Davis students and 10 high school students participating. Additionally, there will be 10 master painters in various locations downtown that any of the others can go to for advice or inspiration. Artists have full freedom with their style and focus, so the artwork will be very diverse.
Davis is not the only place that will experience the paint out on Saturday. It is the international paint out around the world with at least 30 to 40 countries participating. Natsoulas gallery will have interaction with Rio de Janeiro to compare the work created and foster energy for the event.
In Davis particularly, there will be artists from Israel, Mexico, Russia, France and many more places. Each artist will be interacting, observing and interpreting the people and energy of Davis through their paintings.
“I’m looking forward to the huge level of consciousness that they have,” Natsoulas said. “I love the idea that we’re going to see 100 different interpretations of our community.”
One of the most anticipated artists to participate is featured artist Evan Clayburg. He will be performing in front of Natsoulas gallery, dressed head-to-toe in white spandex, standing in front of a large canvas. Everyone will be invited to splatter paint on Clayburg and the canvas. That will leave two different pieces of artwork when it is finished: the canvas and Clayburg himself.
“He’ll be like a walking painting [afterward]; that’s going to be interesting to see,” Natsoulas said.
All of the artists have their own visions and inspirations for their artwork at the paint out.
“I’m excited about getting outside and painting in real life,” said featured master artist, Marti Walker. “It’s about taking a three dimensional point of view and trying to convert it to the two dimension of your medium and getting the painting to have a little mystery about it – something that draws people in.”
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. By 5 p.m., all the painting should be completed and each artist will submit one piece to be displayed in the Natsoulas Gallery, on First Street. Then, from 7 to 10 p.m., the gallery will host an opening reception and silent auction. Jaropa will perform live music during this portion of the event.
At the gallery reception, viewers will be able to interact and converse with the artists. They can also bid on the paintings at the silent auction. Additionally, Utrecht Art Supplies and Davis Mayor Joe Krovoza will present awards. The master painters will jury the work and determine who is awarded.
“I’m hoping to capture the moment and take in the sights, the smells and the noise, the whole surroundings,” said master artist Philippe Gandoil.
Natsoulas hopes that this event continues to grow as it has in the past. The energy of having 100 artists in a five-block radius, interacting and discussing with each other is monumental.
PAAYAL ZAVERI can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.
