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Storms Extend Falls Church Arts’ ‘Scenes in the City’ Plein Air Festival to Oct. 12

Storms Extend Falls Church Arts’ ‘Scenes in the City’ Plein Air Festival to Oct. 12
Plein air painter (unidentified) spotted near Cherry Hill Farm. Photo by Chris Jones.

“Due to the serious nature of Hurricane Helene,” Falls Church Arts’ “Scenes in the City” Plein Air Festival – one of the City of Falls Church’s prized annual art shows – has been moved up to Oct. 12, from its earlier date of Sept. 28, giving outdoor artists in the prize-competition “additional time to paint,” and, hopefully, better weather to complete their submissions. 

2019 Plein Air winners: (left to right) Alexia Scott, Patricia Walach Keough, Rajendra KC, Michael McSorley, Christina Girardi, Jill Banks, and Marianne Tolosa, with their prize-winning art. Courtesy FCA.

An earlier press release from Falls Church Arts describes the festival:

Artists from the Mid-Atlantic will take to the streets to paint in historic Falls Church when the 2024 “Scenes in the City” Plein Air Festival begins on September 13. The festival concludes [now on Oct. 12] with competition judging, a Quick Draw contest, and an awards ceremony. This annual event celebrates the art of plein air painting, where artists work quickly outdoors to capture the ever-changing light and atmosphere.

Artist Christina Blake (with family) wins a Plein Air competition prize for her painting, "Tinner Hill Golden Hour," in the 2022 competition. Courtesy FCA.

Participating artists have fifteen days [now more] to paint their artworks for the competition. Popular painting venues from past years have included the W&OD Trail, city parks, Falls Church City Hall, Victorian buildings, Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Falls Church Farmers Market, the State Theatre, Tinner Hill Historic District sites, Cherry Hill Farmhouse and Barn, and Clare and Don’s Beach Shack.

Painter Jill Banks captures downtown scenes in the 2018 Plein Air Festival. Courtesy FCA.

Display and judging of the artwork entered in the competition begins at 8:00 a.m. when artists drop off their works at Falls Church City Hall grounds, 300 Park Avenue. A Quick Draw competition, open to all levels and all ages, will take place from 8-11 a.m. Awards for the festival and the Quick Draw competition will be announced at noon. 

The Plein Air Festival also includes a People’s Choice Award which is determined by the highest number of votes cast for a painting by the public on the closing day of the festival. Visitors can attend the festival, vote for the People’s Choice Award, browse, and buy the art on display. Paintings purchased on [the final day of the festival, Oct. 12] may be taken home at the conclusion of the event. 

This year’s Juror is Tricia Ratliff, an award-winning Northern Virginia-based impressionist painter. In 2023, awards topped $6,000 and were made possible thanks to a number of local sponsors.

This community-building and family-friendly event is free and is open to the public. To learn more, go to https://fallschurcharts.org.

This Year’s Plein Air Festival Juror, Tricia Ratliff

“Tricia Cherrington-Ratliff is an artist who paints with a specific goal of leaving behind works of art that will be meaningful to future generations,” Ratliff posts on her artist website

Tricia Ratliff, Juror for this year's festival. Courtesy FCA.

“Having grown up in the shadows of the Music Hall of historic Tarrytown New York, Painter Tricia Cherrington-Ratliff credits New York's vibrant art scene with inspiring her to create fine art at a young age. Unconsciously, the history of her surroundings gave her a lifelong sense that a beautiful work of art outlasts a generation and speaks to those who come later. She considers artwork a legacy to be passed to others.”

“At 12 years old, she could be discovered spontaneously drawing beautiful historic locations around town. She accepted early that she wouldn't keep the fruits of her excursions as passers by purchased nearly every drawing she created. This provided natural encouragement and established a trend that continues today.”

"Island Morning," oil on canvas, by Tricia Ratliff. Courtesy Triciaratliff.com.

“Tricia has studied with master painters from around the world. As a result, her work today is influenced by both contemporary realists as well as the old masters (Rembrandt, Titian, Vermeer and Caravaggio). She employs a combination of contemporary colorist methods and classical painting approaches that allow her to tackle any subject in any style that inspires her.”

"Wholesome," oil on canvas, by Tricia Ratliff. Courtesy Triciaratliff.com.

“Her work is a constantly evolving dialog of peaceful realist still life paintings reflecting the joys and complexities of everyday life. You can enjoy her work today knowing that a common thread that brings her current series of works together will surely inspire a whole new exploration of visual ideas in her next series."

"Tricia is also a member of the prestigious 'invitation only' group Fine Art Professionals of Virginia.”


A Painter Describes What It's Like to Participate in the Plein Air Festival

For a feel of what it’s like to enter Falls Church Arts’ Plein Air competition – especially as rainy weather makes things tricky – check out this illuminating 2016 article from painter Cynthia Gilmer of Cynthia Gilmer Fine Art:

Plein Air Festival

Posted on June 18, 2016 by OpusPlus

Today was the opening of Scenes in the City, Falls Church Arts’ annual Plein Air Festival.  The painting period is from mid April till mid June. To qualify, the works must be painted on location and within the City of Falls Church. No painting from photographs is allowed.

This was a particularly tough year because it has been so rainy all spring. That coupled with the fact that we are only in Northern Virginia every other weekend made it a real challenge for me. I managed to enter two works, both painted on the same Saturday two weeks ago.

This show takes me out of my comfort zone. I am at my best painting landscape paintings, in oil, in my studio, from photos I’ve taken. I am trying to do more plein air because the colors are never right in photographs and the scene is also flattened. That said, plein air is hard and can be unforgiving. You have to paint the whole painting in one sitting. You’re dealing with the elements, and curious people, and other distractions. To add to that, Falls Church is an urban area, so I’m painting cityscapes with buildings and people, which is very different from my mountains. And if that’s not enough, I decided to do them in watercolor this year. (See my last post for my thoughts about watercolor.) Watercolor is more transportable and quicker than oil, but I’m still learning to use it.

The show was wonderful. I felt very humbled when I saw the quality of the other works this year. I did not feel like my paintings held up in comparison. I did sell one of them, so I’m pleased that someone likes my art. Perhaps I judge myself too harshly. It was fun to be part of the show, which opened at the Falls Church Farmers Market. We had great traffic – I think about 175 people voted for the people’s choice award. This is very good for creating awareness of our little Falls Church Arts community.

Scenes in the City Photo

My two entries are pictured below. Just prior to painting these I read a book called The Urban Sketcher, which will be the subject of a future post. I was doing my best to use what I learned from that book.

EPSON MFP image

Afternoon Break (At the Mad Fox Brewing Company)

EPSON MFP image

Market Day (Sold)

Finally, in case anybody doubts that I really painted these outside, a very unforgiving photo of my backside appeared in the Falls Church News-Press this week. I was so engrossed in painting my market scene I didn’t even know I was being photographed. If I had, I would have tried to strike a more flattering pose.

Scanned Document

By Christopher Jones