Montana Painters Alliance Visiting Whitehall, Will Present at Black Tie & Blue Jeans

From June 13th through 15th, the Montana Painters Alliance (MPA) will hold its 2024 Spring Paint Out in and around Whitehall. Artists will work in Whitehall and the area outside of town, and the community will be welcome to stop, observe, and meet the artists at work.

On Saturday, June 15th, the MPA artists will meet and display their work in their "Tailgate Salon" at the Whitehall Community Center. While their display will be part of the Whitehall Chamber's annual fundraiser, Black Tie & Blue Jeans, the Tailgate Salon will be open to all - no BTBJ ticket is needed to view these wonderful Whitehall pieces.

The Montana Painters Alliance has 23 artists who work to hone their skills as professional artists by getting together twice a year to paint in different locations around the state. Sharing painting ideas and techniques happens naturally as artists paint together, and doing so in beautiful locations around the state is the icing on the cake. The artists work in various mediums outside or "en plein air."

Plein Air painting is like boot camp for artists, as one is constantly challenged by the rigors of outdoor painting-the changing light, rain, heat or cold, bugs in one's paint, and the Montana wind. One must find the essence of the subject, simplify, and paint quickly-all great exercises and inherent lessons for the working artist.

Let it also be said that there is much camaraderie around the campfire in the evenings, with good food and drink and good music (by our illustrious Chuck Fulcher and sometimes others as well). Of course, many tall tales are shared!

As a result of their paint-outs, the MPA has organized shows in museums and galleries across the state. Individual name recognition is a by-product of these shows, related magazine articles, workshops, and group advertising.

About twenty years ago, artist Tom English and a small cadre of like-minded painters who regularly got together to paint outdoors began to discuss forming a larger group of artists. Artists could get together twice a year and paint to pursue further development of their outdoor painting skills while exploring new Montana locations. At each paint-out they would share their insights, socialize, and use their organization to broaden the knowledge and appreciation of plein air painting in the public sphere. Thus, the MPA was formed.

Artist members of the MPA: Rob Akey, Marcia Ballowe, Diana Brady, Nate Closson, Todd Connor, Thomas English, Chuck Fulcher, Laurie Stevens, Mimi Grant, Jerry Inman, Patrick McClellan, Jennifer McClellan, Jake Gaedtke, Diana Mysse, Terry Nybo, Steve Oiestad, Greg Scheibel, Deb Schmit, Robert Spannring, David Swanson, Ron Ukrainetz Shirle Wempner, and Ken Yarus.

For additional information contact Rob Akey at 406-270-4177 or Tom English at 406-799-2881.