Mackinaw City Area Arts Council

2012 Plein Air Festival

Mackinaw City Area Arts Council is hosting it’s 2nd Plein Air event.  This year we are offering a two day workshop withinstructor Sharon Griffes Tarr on August 3rd and 4th, 2013 at Mackinaw Women's Center on Jamet St. Saturday from 9-4pm and Sunday 10-4pm. 

If you are looking to expand your artistic knowledge and talent in open air painting you will not want to miss this workshop. 

Sharon is a highly respected artist and very popular drawing and painting instructor. In her thirty plus years of teaching she estimates she has introduced thousands of students to painting from life in the out-of-doors. Her popularity as a painter and instructor are both earmarked by the number of students and collectors who repeatedly seek her out. She consistently rates as a “10” in content and delivery by students who take her classes and workshops. Her generosity in sharing her knowledge and expertise is well known; always encouraging students to define their personal uniqueness in their art as they study and grow.

Sharon currently works and lives in Williamston, Michigan. She is a Master Member of the Great Lakes Plein Air Painters Assn., Plein Air Artists of Western Michigan, Great Lakes Pastel Society, and an exhibiting member of Oil Painters of America. She is represented in Michigan by Coyote Woman Gallery of Harbor Springs and in her studio/gallery in Williamston.

Sharon Griffes Tarr believes that working from life is mandatory for a landscape artist who wishes to satisfactorily express light in their work. For this reason, she works en plein air at least three to four times each week, either early in the morning or early evening. These studies are the fodder for her larger works created in the studio. According to Sharon, “I study in the out-of-doors and experiment, push, and perform in the studio”. There is a certain quality of discipline in this combination that supports artistic growth in understanding, knowledge, and skill. Tarr emphasizes this with her students and encourages their working from life as often as schedules permit.

Light and shadow predominate in Sharon’s paintings. She feels this combination results in richly interesting visual contrasts. She says, “I prefer to emphasize the drama of light and dark in my work and therefore utilize the concept the Japanese Notan in the various layers of my process, including color. My preference is oil for its tactile qualities and pastel for its vivid color properties.” Sharon also sketches on location with watercolors.

She is active on the web through her website, blog, Facebook, Linked-in and Pinterest. Sharon may be contacted via her website at www.SGTarr.com

This is a great family week-end in the straits area as the Historic Festival at Heritage village is planned and the Re-enactors are camped at Conkling Park with their demonstrations, muskets and music.  

The week end will include one demonstration from the artist, lecture and personal instruction and assistance. Workshop is limited to 14. Cost for the workshop is $100.00. Inquiries by email at mcaac2012@gmail.com or call Lorie Axtell at 989-529-0752. Checks or money orders should be mailed to Mackinaw City Area Arts Council at P.O. Box 113 Mackinaw City, Mi. 49701

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The mission of the Mackinaw City Area Arts council is to promote and encourage participation in and appreciation of the Fine Arts in the Greater Mackinaw City Area through exhibits, instructions, activities and performances throughout the year.

The Mackinaw City Area Arts Council organized in late spring of 2011 with a six-member steering committee.  MCAAC now has a 12-member board and 60 individual, family and corporate members.  The necessary paperwork to be recognized as a 501-c-3 organization has been filed.

The arts council is currently surveying various segments of the community to determine future program offerings and the facilities needed to house them.  For more information about MCAAC or to contact us:

   Our email address is MackinawArts@gmail.com
   Our mailing address is PO Box 113, Mackinaw City, Mi. 49701
   Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mackinaw-City-Area-Arts-Council/340172546046410
   Please contact us regarding any level of membership.
   Benefactor $1000
   Sponsor $500
   Patron $250
   Sustaining $100
   Family $35
   Individual $25
   Student $15

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mackinaw-City-Area-Arts-Council/340172546046410