DON'T BRUSH THIS OFF. The 10th annual GO Paint! festival is bringing folks together once again for a five-day spread of artful camaraderie at the end of September. (Photos via Facebook)

2022 marks the 10th annual GO Paint! Chippewa Valley art festival, hosted by the Pablo Center at the Confluence, and as the Valley starts seeing hints of the fall season, you too can splash autumnal reds, oranges, and yellows across town – on canvas, that is.

The GO Paint! five-day plein air fall festival invites artists to create up to five pieces of art for each event across the five days, all inspired by and focusing on the environmental beauty of Buffalo, Chippewa, Dunn, Pepin, and Eau Claire counties. 

From Sept. 24-30, various GO Paint! events will be held across the Valley, kicking off at 11am on Saturday, Sept. 24, with the Youth Quick Paint event presented by the Pablo Center and sponsored by the Janet Carson Art Education Fund. The opening event is free for painters aged 18 and under, who may register online. Participants will have one hour to paint outside of Haymarket Plaza and Phoenix Park, and may use their own supplies or the supplies provided at the event. 

Here is rest of the fest’s lineup (for more details on each session, see this brochure):

Saturday, Sept. 24:

• 2-4pm: Adult Quick Paint

Monday, Sept. 26:

• 9am-12pm: Eau Claire Social Paint in Rod and Gun Park

Tuesday, Sept. 27:

• 4-8pm: Altoona Social Paint in River Prairie Park

Wednesday, Sept. 28:

• 12-4pm: Durand Social Paint in Lower Chippewa View Park

Thursday, Sept. 29: 

• 4-8pm: Leinie Lodge Social Paint at the Leinie Lodge in Chippewa Falls

Friday, Sept. 30:

• 10am-12pm: Artists turn in work for judging to Pablo Center
• 6-8pm: Meet the Artists Reception & Awards Ceremony

All artwork created during the fall fest will be up for sale and exhibited during the final event after being turned into jurors James Boyd Brent and GO Paint! founding member Jean Accola. 

GO Paint! art will be displayed virtually on the Pablo Center’s website and social media, and in the Laurie Beize Gallery at the Pablo Center. Cash prizes will be awarded for adult Quick Paint events, exhibit awards, and others. The registration fee to participate is $30. 

Sign up for the community-based arts festival on the official GO Paint! website at www.pablocenter.org/visual-arts/gopaint.