WARSAW — Local artist, Jeff Hodges, Warsaw, will be one of more than 60 artist painting landscapes and street scenes at the First Brush of Fall paint-out in Converse and around the Mississinewa Lake Reservoir on Saturday, Sept. 24. Artists from all over Indiana, Michigan and Ohio will be attending the event including some big names in landscape art.

Hodges looks forward to observing and painting alongside other artists at the very scenic location of Converse. Being primarily a landscape artist, the wooded areas, winding creek and fields of sunflowers will make a truly inspiring day.

The Indiana Plein Air Painters Association (IPAPA) hosts events where all artists can come and pain plein air – a French term meaning to paint out in the open, said Bill Wissel, president of the statewide organization.

Artists compete for an estimated $4,000 in prizes and purchase awards, said Avon Waters, IPAPA host for this event. Paintings will be purchased for a public art collection and because of this, it will continue the legacy of open air painting in Indiana. The Indiana Bicentennial Commission named this a legacy event.

Artists arrive, check-in, get their canvases stamped and then scatter to the winds to find something of interest to paint in the town, or surrounding area. Usually they will paint several paintings throughout the day before they return to have their work judged and exhibited in town for sale.

Many well recognized IPAPA artists will be attending this event, including Mary Ann Davis, Ron Mack, Don Woodson and Donna Shortt. Mack just recently placed first in a Brown County Event and Shortt placed second.

“Every year IPAPA hosts events like the once in Converse and other equally wonderful locations to give its 300 plus members the opportunity to learn from one another and to continue the tradition of outdoor painting, ” said Wissel.

The public is welcome to watch artists paint and especially to the exhibition to see the day’s work by all. The sale and exhibit at these events can draw people from hours away. the exhibition/sale in Converse will be from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the corner of Brandon and Jefferson streets.

These are some of the top landscape artists in the Midwest, maybe the courntry, said WAters.