Edmonds Beacon - Your Hometown News Source

Have you noticed artists and their easels around town lately?

They are participating in the Edmonds Plein Air Paint Out, sponsored by the Cole Gallery. Thirty-two artists are participating through Sept. 11, painting the Edmonds and Kingston areas.

My friend and local artist, Delores Haugland, is one of the participants. I asked her if I could hang out while she painted around the Edmonds Marsh last weekend.

I promised I would try not to distract her, and she helped by bringing me a book that I had never gotten around to reading, "Where the Crawdads Sing," by Delia Owens.

I'm guessing most of you readers have read it a while ago. I read the prologue and it started out: "Marsh is not swamp. Marsh is a space of light, where grass grows in water, and water flows into the sky."

Wow, I thought. How appropriate to where I was!

While I was reading and she was painting, many people came by and were interested in what she was doing – and they were happy to learn about the Plein Air Paint Out, to watch for more artists around town, and maybe be inspired to board the ferry to Kingston.

Many people that came by had cameras, some just walking their dogs and others, you could tell, were there just for the peace and tranquility of the beautiful marsh, with all its different shades of color and textures and the beautiful, amazing wildlife. I saw one heron, then two; such elegant creatures!

I look forward to spotting more of the artists invited to participate in this "paint out" around town and see what they chose to capture.

So keep your eyes peeled for the Plein Air painters through Sept. 11. The display at Cole Gallery is Sept.13 through Oct. 3.

An awards ceremony and artists' reception is 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, during Art Walk Edmonds.