How did two retired septuagenarians with limited art experience create a 400-member plein air painting group, host monthly paint-outs at various locations, offer plein air classes, build a comprehensive website, launch an online gallery, and even reconfigure their property to include a quirky plein air studio?
It all started when Jim and Annie Hames went to the Plein Air Convention and Expo (PACE) and began their plein air journey.
How We Started a Local Plein Air Painters Group
By Jim and Annie Hames
Retirement has only been a word for us.
It all began when we attended PACE (in Santa Fe, 2022) as a bucket-list road trip to see what plein air painting was all about. We started with the Basics Course, which was an eye-opener for both of us. We learned about all mediums, techniques and tools, and heard stories of each artist’s journey. Over four days, we met other artists including the administrators of Plein Air Painters New Mexico (PAPNM), attended more classes and demos, enjoyed the energy of the event … we even learned what “values” are …we think! We were hooked.
On our 20-hour drive back home to Greenville, South Carolina, we could not stop talking about the event and the possibilities. Somewhere along the route, we reached out to Mr. Google to find a local plein air group.
After a thorough search, we ultimately located a small group whose leader asked if we would like to take it and run with it. We accepted that challenge and never looked back. Within several weeks, we hosted our first paint-out with about 20 painters and found ourselves administrators of our own plein air group.
We determined that emulating a successful plein air group would help us understand what we needed to do, so we joined PAPNM and modeled our efforts after theirs to provide our Plein Air Painters Carolina member artists with as many positive experiences as possible.
Most folks don’t even know what “en plein air” means, so we set about educating all we encountered.
In our first year, we started monthly paint-outs and sprinkled that with social interactions and mini-classes at the Tractor Shed, our plein air studio. Before the year was out, we learned that researching locations and site visits were essential.
During that first half-year, we charged no dues, and all events were complementary. Connection with artists was our biggest challenge; we solved that by using an online bulletin board to announce our events and using social media.
Along with monthly paint-outs and an expanded class schedule, we felt our members deserved to have their work showcased. So barely a year after we held our first Tractor Shed paint-out, we hosted the Fall Art Expo, a one-day art experience held at the Greenville Center for Creative Arts. The Expo featured our Member Artists and an indoor quick-paint. The turnout, sales, and community response amazed us.
By this time we realized we could provide even more with a dues structure in place, so we built that program and saw our core membership grow and become more active.
Our first year had provided us with a playbook that seemed to work.
We expanded our website and conducted more classes; our next Fall Art Expo was hosted by Pickens County (SC) Museum of Art and our showcase and sale spanned two gallery floors for a month.
We also launched the “En Plein Air…In Plain Sight!” Online Gallery for our member artists to gain more exposure and sales opportunities.
Today, Plein Air Painters Carolina is based out of our Greenville, South Carolina home. The membership has grown now to include signature artists from the low-country of South Carolina to the mountains of North Carolina. We pride ourselves in welcoming a full range of artists–from true beginners to some of the most accomplished painters in the country. Included in our membership are former PACE faculty members, Russell Jewell, Christine Swann, and Justin Donaldson, named Plein Air Breakout Artist of the Year at the 2024 PACE. Not a bad group to go on a paint-out!
We could not have made this journey without the wisdom and help of great people and talented artists. We invite you to visit us on the website, tour the gallery, and become a Member. Best of all, come paint with us!
Connect with Plein Air Painters Carolina:
Website | Instagram | Facebook
And, don’t miss your opportunity to create lifetime memories at PACE! The next Plein Air Convention & Expo is May 19-23, 2025 in Lake Tahoe and Reno. All training sessions are indoors on giant, high-def screens, with plein air paint-outs in the afternoons. Beginners and pros feel right at home, so register now to join us!
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Jim and Annie, Loved this! I am so happy for y’all. And because of your love for your project, you make alot of people happy enjoying each other and nature. Art is for everyone…just glad I found my way.