Oil Painters of America "Great American Paint Out " 2008 Plein Air Event at Poplar Grove

The Oil Painters of America (OPA) organized a plein air event this weekend at Poplar Grove Plantation near Charleston, SC as part of OPA's "Great American Paintout".

Local OPA member Sara Jane Reynolds invited regional artists including the Charleston Outdoor Painters Association , and the Charleston Artist Guild to paint with OPA members on this spectacular 6,000 acre Lowcountry Preserve.

The weather was perfect for plein air painting, sunny and mild with few bugs - a rare day in our semi tropical climate.


I took a break from my afternoon painting on a peaceful tidal creek to see who was painting where.

Here are a few of the painters I found painting at locations all over the 6,000 acres of property that make up Poplar Grove.

The covered dock on Rantowles Creek was a popular painting site.
Taking advantage of great views from every direction were painters Barrie Hinson, Ben Nita McAdam, Ann Merrill, Sally Reynolds, and Rick Reinert.


Sparky Howard, Property Manager of Poplar Grove takes notes while keeping things running smoothly as Sara Jane Reynolds and Ann Merrill enjoy the views of the creek.


Linda Hickman chose to paint an open marsh view including a creek side oak tree used as a "rookery" by herons in the evening.

in the shade of a group of trees. The afternoon light on a marsh vista and distant tree line made an interesting composition for her second painting of the afternoon.



Carol McGill was putting the finishing touches on her palette knife painting of Rantowles Creek at Bulow Boat Landing. Carol had created two plein air paintings of Poplar Grove that could be hung together as a set. She said a number of "Paint Out" artists had chosen to paint at the landing earlier in the day.

The Oil Painters of America SC "Great American Paint Out" plein air event continues tomorrow with a morning paint out session followed by a reception from 11-1pm to meet the artists and view the artwork in the Poplar Grove Boat House.