Hamburg artist Brian Warfel took his paints and easel to West Reading, along with about 39 other Berks County artists, to the first annual Plein Air West Reading competition June 17 to 18.
“I am looking forward to this event very much, rain or shine I’m ready,” said Warfel prior to the competition. “I am going to find my spot and stake my claim ahead of the crowd, and I am prepared to Bring It! Think Octagon Cage Fighting, just with paints and easels in place of hand to hand combat.”
Emphasing that he is new to Plein Air, he said he practiced before that weekend, “because this event may be out of my league. However, I’m certain this will still be a positive experience for me. Painting is not meant to be easy, or one isn’t trying hard enough, is my theory. Can’t wait!”
Warfel tried Plein Air once when he was 19, a few decades ago and loved it. He found out about the Plein Air weekend from a few Art Plus Gallery members in West Reading.
“This show is a positive way of getting out of my comfort zone, which can be very beneficial to most artists. It will force me to bring my A-game. Last fall I was introduced to Karen Weber, the Director of Art Plus Gallery about a worldwide event which I, along with others from this area participated in this past January. The event is called “30 Paintings in 30 Days,” and it was sponsored by and artist in South Pasadena, California… talk about getting out of one’s comfort zone. It was ALL consuming, and fantastic!”
Warfel is a committee member of the Hamburg Area Arts Alliance and has worked in the Hamburg Gallery. He also exhibited in the Hawk Mountain Art Tour on June 4. His medium of art is oil. He has been in graphic arts since the early 80s and painting in oil since the mid 70s.
What he likes about his art form is that “a particular painting can almost take on a life of it’s own (at least for me), regardless of what the initial intent when I start. That might sound cliche, but I’ve been away from the canvas for quite a while, and off and on through the years. Although that ‘life of their own’ approach might sound interesting to some, I much prefer to control my brush, and palette, and complete a painting and say, ‘Yes, that’s exactly what I had in mind when I started.’ It doesn’t always work out that way. Rags and turpentine can always make it go away.”
West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation presented the event Plein Air West Reading, inviting artists to canvas the one square-mile borough of West Reading.
“There are so many different facets to West Reading, and it will be up to each artist to pick any one or two they want to focus on,” sais Christin Kelley, director of West Reading Community Revitalization Foundation, in the event release. “We have a bustling downtown area with sidewalk cafes and colorful boutiques. There’s amazing architecture in the old homes and commercial areas, and beautiful parks and gardens. Artists can paint or draw anything or anywhere in West Reading. They can enjoy a peaceful day by the creek or river, or be right in the heart of the action.”
The hub for participating artists and supporters is at Art Plus Gallery, 604 Penn Ave.
The artwork is showcased at a fundraising After Party on Saturday evening. More than $1,000 in prizes will be awarded. Judging the artwork is Levi Landis, executive director of GoggleWorks Center for the Arts. The exhibit opens to the public on Sunday, June 19.
Artists had to be at least 18 years old to participate. For more information, visit http://www.pleinairwestreading.com/.
