Capture the glowing reds and golds of Vermont’s Green and Taconic mountain ranges en plein air. A vibrant town in all seasons, Manchester is extraordinary and renowned for its foliage at this time of year. The trees’ changing colors inspire locals and foliage pilgrims alike, and it’s easy to fall in love with Vermont’s skies in autumn–both on brilliant blue days and on the overcast ones, when clouds dramatize our amazing leaf color. 

We will paint on location during the day, hang work for public sale each evening, eat dinner together and enjoy getting to know one another during casual artmaking afterwards. In case of rain, professional painters who live locally will offer studio visits, artist talks and demonstrations at drawing and painting sessions in SVAC’s galleries and classroom.

What’s Included:

• SVAC Artist Membership (or a year’s extension for current members)
• Artwork entry in four evenings’ pop-up “Wet Paint” art sales
• Painting locations map, permits and information
• Catered dinner at SVAC each evening
• Coffee and sweet treats at SVAC each morning

Locations
Each day, we will gather at SVAC in the morning for coffee and sweet treats and share information about suggested plein air painting locations. Among our destinations will be a wooded stream, a hilltop vista, and a farm. We will spend a block of time painting in the center of town. For lunch, artists are on their own, free to explore many local eateries.

Daily “Wet Paint” Sales
At the end of each afternoon, Monday October 6 – Thursday October 9, the group will gather again at SVAC to hang that day’s work in our historic Yester House galleries. The arts center will promote these shows through a variety of media channels to encourage the public to attend–to enjoy and to purchase artworks.

Evenings
We will eat together at SVAC–delicious, creative food catered by curATE café. Afterward, artists may spend time at the day’s Wet Paint show, enjoy beverages at the museum’s cash bar, share stories and techniques, draw one another, spend time in SVAC’s Elizabeth de C. Wilson museum’s exhibition, or go out on the town.

Lodging
There is a wide array of beautiful, intriguing options close to SVAC. Discounts of 10 – 15% are available at The Inn at Manchester, The Equinox Resort & Spa, The Taconic Hotel, and The Hampton Inn. In addition, thanks to a partnership with Stratton Mountain, a limited number of rooms are available at a spectacular rate, far below their usual cost, in a renovated motel four miles away. Please email Erin Kaufman for details about the Stratton partnership option.

Connect Ahead
Participants will be able to reach out to one another via a Facebook group in order to send greetings and plan for potential room and/or vehicle sharing.

Cancellation Policy
Through May 4: 100% refund less $50 processing fee
May 5 – July 4: 50% refund less $50 processing fee
After July 5: no refunds

Photo credit: Abby Raeder