– Bob Bahr reporting, Editor PleinAir Today –
The Indiana Plein Air Painters Association has long held biennial paint-outs on Lake Wawasee, the largest natural lake in Indiana. It is not just an idyllic setting; the group’s partnership with the Wawasee Yacht Club ably mixes collectors and painters.
Lead Image: Melanie Wissel, Wyatt LeGrand, and Bill Wissel, snapped as the Wissels purchased one of LeGrand’s paintings
The group gets permission to paint on private property, the Yacht Club throws a party, and everyone has a good time. Bill Wissel is president of IPAPA and a longtime fan of the event.
“Dr. George and Mrs. Peggy Rapp were very gracious hosts, and there is a local organizing committee for the event,” Wissel tells us. “Artists were free to paint in the area on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. On Saturday evening the Wawasee Yacht Club hosted a pizza party for the group. Artists set up easels with their wet paintings and munched on 26 pizzas. Beer and wine were also served. Approximately 50 artists participated in the event. On Sunday mornings, excursions were made on the lake to get a close-up view of a couple of different weekly yacht races on the lake. Sailboats can’t really control where they go, and there were a few close calls. It was more thrilling than it was intended to be! From 1:00 till 3:00 on Sunday there was a sale at the shelter of the South Shore Golf Club.”
