GO PAINT (OUTSIDE)! Here in the Chippewa Valley, there has been no shortage of creatives who bring their supplies to the great outdoors and practice plein air art. Today, a new group of these artists has emerged with the goal to meet in public areas around Eau Claire and create works inspired by local landscapes. (Pictured, a plein air artist paints along the Chippewa River near the Grand Avenue bridge)

In the fleeting warm months when Midwesterners soak up the sunshine, area artists have taken their creative practices to the great outdoors. Plein air art – painting outside as an environment naturally shifts – is just one medium that captures these summertime landscapes and local architecture in real time.

Here in Eau Claire, artists have long been searching for ways to connect and establish the next plein air group after the last ‘Go Paint!’ art festival in 2024 has phased its way out of the Pablo Center at the Confluence (128 Graham Ave., Eau Claire). 

The ‘Go Paint!’ festival was over a decade-long event hosted through the Pablo Center bringing together plein air artists from around the Midwest to participate in a week-long competition.

With planned locations for each day, quick paint events, judging panels and a closing ceremony, artists had the opportunity to sell their pieces and connect with fellow plein air enthusiasts.

Since then, those same artists have looked for ways to regroup in a similar fashion. Facebook groups – Eau Claire Plein Air Painters – have emerged over the past few years wanting to meet in public areas around the Chippewa Valley to paint plein air.

At 6pm sharp on Tuesday, July 28, local visual artists came together to plein air paint on the west side of the Grand Avenue walking bridge. As the evening went along, these artists were able begin a journey to bridge the gaps from the festival’s pause, to now.

This new wave of plein air artists will gather once again from 8am-noon on Saturday, Aug. 8 at the Downtown Eau Claire Farmers Market (300 Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire); 6-8pm on Aug. 11 near the west side of the Grand Bridge across from Chippewa Valley Theater Guild (102 W Grand Ave., Eau Claire) .

Though each artist used different mediums – oil paints, watercolors, sketchbooks, canvases, recycled material – the group was able to enjoy the company and enthusiasm of nearby walkers, bikers and art enthusiasts alike.

In watching these creatives interact, these groups needed a chance to simply expand the connections between local artists.

“Everyone’s still here and we just need something similar to organize,” Naomi Tiry Salgado said, a local plein air artist.

Tiry Salgado was born and raised in Chippewa Falls and after years spent living elsewhere in the state, she recently found her way back home. Since moving back to the area in early March, she has reached out to multiple plein air groups – looking for fellow creatives who share similar passions to learn and grow in the medium.

“(In) many jobs you have interactions around the water cooler or touching points with people and learn things by that interaction. This is equivalent to the water cooler talk.”

NAOMI TIRY SALGADO

LOCAL PLEIN AIR ARTIST

Plein air art has long been woven into Tiry Salgado’s artistry; she has competed in an invitational plein air art festival hosted in Door County and was a former president of Outdoor Painters of Minnesota.

Other group coordinators such as Joe Maurer, a local Chippewa Valley multimedia artist, uses upcycled materials to create Plein Air art with his built-in-easel on his bike. 

This new group of artists both challenges one another while creating a stronger community centered around plein air, both Maurer and Tiry Salgado noted.

Joe Maurer, pictured above, paints along the Chippewa River in late July.

“(In) many jobs you have interactions around the water cooler or touching points with people and learn things by that interaction,” Tiry Salgado said. “This is equivalent to the water cooler talk.”

“Most of our days are (spent) alone, but then when you get together with your group you can share and learn,” Tiry Salgado continued.

Since their first official meeting, the group has already made plans to gather from 8am-noon on Saturday, Aug. 8 at the Downtown Eau Claire Farmers Market (300 Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire). From 6-8pm on Aug. 11, the group will return to the west side of the Grand Bridge across from Chippewa Valley Theater Guild (102 W Grand Ave., Eau Claire) for another plein air session.

For details on upcoming group events visit the Eau Claire Plein Air Painters page on Facebook. To get involved and ask questions related to the group, connect with Naomi Tiry Salgado via email at Naomi@tirysalgado.com.