Wet Paint Live 2019

Forces of nature made the 2019 Wet Paint Live, now in its 12th year, a bit more challenging for both the artists and art lovers. Once a year for the past 12 years, local artists have donated their time and talent to participate in Wet Paint Live presented by the Marco Island Chamber of Commerce, the Marco Island Center for the Arts, and the Marco Island Foundation for the Arts.

The participating artists choose distinct locations around the Marco Island, Isles of Capri, and Goodland. The Chamber of Commerce advertises a map of the various artists’ locations where art enthusiasts and collectors may participate in a scavenger hunt, of sorts, to view the artists painting en plein air. Each canvas is stamped at the Chamber of Commerce on the morning of the event for authenticity, then the artists head to their locations and busily create their masterpieces from 9 AM to 3 PM, visible to the public and happily answering questions of inquisitive passersby. Well, that’s how it usually is. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate and made it a truly wet, Wet Paint Live. Flashflood-like downpours, commonplace in Southwest Florida during summer months and practically unheard of in February, hit the coastline just before dawn. The rain fluctuated from a light drizzle to downpours throughout the day; causing the artists to seek shelter while creating their paintings. Some artists completed their paintings at the Marco Island Center for the Arts.

“I have participated in every Wet Paint Live. This is the first year I moved to different location in order to complete my piece,” remarks Inez Hudson, who started her painting at Rose Marina and opted to relocate indoors at the Center for the Arts. “I had several clients call and text me to find out where I was.”

To be eligible, all entries were completed by 3 PM and delivered to the Rose Auditorium by 4 PM in preparation for the evening’s Reception and Live Auction. The evening’s festivities began at 5:30 PM with a viewing, Meet the Artists, hors d’oeuvres, and an open bar.

“This year, we are so proud to have a young artist (Brenda Perez) participating who benefited from the art classes made possible through the donations raised from Wet Paint Live. It really brings it all full circle,” beamed Dianna Dohm, Executive Director of the Marco Island Area Chamber of Commerce.

“I first became interested in Art when I was high school. I attended the free weekend classes offered by the Marco Island Center for the Arts. The classes exposed me to both clay and drawing. I found a love for drawing, and I really enjoyed the drawing class taught by Tara O’Neill. Both Tara O’Neill and Hyla Crane have been strong influences and made me believe that I could really do this,” explained Brenda Perez, now entering her sophomore year as an art major at Florida Southwest.

Promptly at 7 PM the Live Auction commenced, with the Chamber’s Katherine O’Hara introducing the artists, and Mike Jones, owner of the Speakeasy and Brewery, auctioning the paintings to the highest bidders. The Silent Auction closed 10 minutes after the Live Auction ended.

The artists receive 50% of the sale price of their art work. The remainder supports art scholarships and programs, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Leadership Marco Scholarship Fund, providing educational scholarships to deserving local high school graduates.

For more information, go to: www.marcoislandchamber.org.