Plein air paintings of Glacier, Flathead now on display

By SETH ANDERSON

Hungry Horse News

The 17th annual Plein Art Glacier festival kicked off earlier this month in Glacier Park and the Flathead Valley, hosted by the Hockaday Museum of Art in Kalispell. Thirty-five artists from across the U.S. and Canada converge on the Flathead to paint and showcase its captivating landscapes. Plein air is a French term referring to painting in the open air.

Throughout the week artists create their one-of -a-kind artworks through a variety of different painting mediums and canvas sizes in the open air with locations of their choosing.

Artists covered areas across all areas of Glacier and the Flathead Valley, from St. Mary’s and the east side to West Glacier and the North Fork. Waterfalls, mountainsides, wildflowers and even Milky Way galaxies were among the subjects chosen this year by the participants.

With winter weather coming in mid-festival, artists were forced to adapt to the ever changing conditions, which produced some beautiful snowy and moody landscape renditions. This year’s best of show was Richie Carter with his moving pieces from the St Mary valley. Jessica Bryant took home Curators choice with her phenomenal watercolor pieces.  

Ella Kuzyk, returning artist at the festival, chose a variety of landscapes such as McDonald creek, Hungry Horse Reservoir, Logan Pass, and Mount Pollock to show off her vibrant painting style. Kuzyk said that every year gets better at the festival with this years being the best yet.  

People can view and purchase the art at the Hockaday throughout the month September and until Oct. 5, with online sales available as well at: https://app.galabid.com/pleinairglacier2024/items