Moss hanging from live oaks over languid bayou water… sugar cane burning an angry orange in a crisp black night… boats rusting in front of a metal building seemingly constructed of old Barq’s ads. A muddy beach strewn with shells, crabs scuttling under a dazzling blue sky. A majestic Victorian mansion, gingerbread decked out in her best colors. These are images you can find all over Acadiana, scenes you know, things you may take for granted.

The artists invited for the Shadows-on-the-Teche Plein Air Competition will rediscover the beauty of these scenes and more, looking at the everyday splendor to which we may have become blind. This is the purpose and the appeal of Plein Air painting, taking a fresh view of the scenery: perspective, composition, light.

The Shadows-on-the-Teche Plein Air Competition, held since 2015, returns this year, March 9-16. Artists from all over the country will come to compete, painting scenes from the seven parishes of Acadiana, a 6,400-square-mile studio of varied inspiration. They will have their canvases stamped by the competition, and only those canvases can be used within the week. All stamped paintings must be submitted for judging. Other than that, there is no restriction on what they can paint, or how many paintings they can produce.

Landscape artist Phil Sandusky has been involved in the Shadows Plein Air since it began. He was the original judge of the competition, and since that year, he has been juried in and has painted in several locations each year. Currently living in New Orleans, Sandusky came to South Louisiana in the 80s and worked in the oil patch, so he’s familiar with places like Abbeville, New Iberia, Jefferson Island and St. Martinville. Several artists in the competition enter numerous Plein Air events held throughout the nation, but Sandusky chooses to enter only the Shadows event each year.

“I’m lucky enough to live in a place that gives me many opportunities to paint landscapes, speaking of New Orleans,” he states.”I come back to the Shadows Plein Air not just for the variety of subject matter, but also for the food, for the culture and the camaraderie.” He speaks fondly of occupying the ‘Table of Honor’ at Victor’s Cafeteria with local dignitaries and of the friends he has made. “I get to see some of the same folks who come back every year like me, and I look forward to catching up with them,” Sandusky says.

By contrast, Elizabeth Rhoades of Belle Haven, Va. is a first-time artist at the Shadows this year, but she is also familiar with Acadiana. “My husband lived here, and he has friends and family in the area,” she explains. “I usually do three Plein Air events annually, and this year, we decided to come to New Iberia. It’s a two-day drive for us, and we’ll come down a day early to scope out locations.” Rhoades has painted Plein Air in the Adirondacks, the Finger Lakes, North Carolina and coastal Virginia as well as many other juried exhibits. She especially enjoys painting waterscapes,capturing a composition of light and color. ”I’ve seen some of the work that has been done in previous years, I liked the scenery and I hope to find inspiration for successful paintings that will just fly off my brush,” she relates.

Another ‘newbie’ to the competition is John T. Eiseman of Maryland. To be clear, Eiseman is new only to the Shadows competition, not to Plein Air, having received honors and awards in exhibits ranging from Birmingham, Ala. to Boulder, Col. Eiseman says he’d heard about the great people, the food and the outstanding viewscapes awaiting him in New Iberia and surrounding areas. He retired from his ‘day job’ after a 40-year career in the paint industry at 58 years old, and has been painting full-time since then. Eiseman points to Plein Air as an important movement in American painting, burgeoning in the last few years. “There are now hundreds of Plein Air festivals all over the U.S.,” he explains. “This is an important epoch in America’s visual idiom.”

Karen Philpott is competing for the third year at the Shadows, and she is honored and enthusiastic about returning. “I believe Acadiana’s lovely untapped landscapes represent a story that needs to be told,” she says. “The March dates of the event are near Spring, and I look forward to seeing the new wildflowers.” Philpott plans to locate in Delcambre, Rip Van Winkle Gardens, Avery Island or perhaps Lake Martin.

Kirk Larsen is also a returning artist, this is his fourth year to participate. Larsen is an artist and a musician; his creativity is sparked not only by the natural scenery, but also the food and, of course, the music of the region. “I love the people, the food and the places. I’m inspired by the earthiness of Acadiana, and the native music is the pulse,” he says.

Shadows Senior Manager of Operations and Marketing Jayd Buteaux would like to encourage the public to come out to free Plein Air events, from “Paintouts” to painting demonstrations and talks, to the final art show and sale. The public can also participate in other ways., “We welcome any suggestions from the public for good locations for artists to paint,” says Buteaux. “We also would love to have sponsors for meals and housing. And just go find an artist and watch them paint. Paintings can be purchased off the easel, although they will be displayed at the show.”

Artists will vie for $10,000 in prizes, including Best of Show, and other special categories.

Shadows-on-the-Teche Plein Air Competition

March 9-16, 2024

Events

Saturday, March 9

7:30 AM Artists’ Registration

4 PM Quick Draw in Downtown New Iberia

Sunday, March 10

5 PM Meet & Greet Bayou Carlin Cove, Delcambre

Tuesday, March 12

1 PM Painting Demo by Judge John Poon, Hilliard Art Museum in Lafayette

Wednesday March 13

4 PM Judge John Poon Artist’s Talk at UL School of Fine Art

Thursday March 14

2 PM Painting Demo Judge John Poon Downtown New Iberia

Friday, March 15

9 AM – 1 PM Paint Out Downtown New Iberia

6:30 PM Awards Ceremony & Fine Art Sale, Shadows Visitors Center

Saturday March 16

Paintings on Exhibit at Shadows Visitor Center 9 AM – 4 PM