Plein Air Artists, Over 70 Murals and 125 Artists in OldTown Temecula This Weekend

Gayle DuRivage

Over 125 muralists and visual artists create giant pastel murals on Main Street in Old Town Temecula during the 11th Annual Old Town Temecula Street Painting and Plein Air Festival, this weekend. Street Painters include featured artist Gayle DuRivage of Menifee. Gayle won best of show last year. 

Also painting are: Jesus Gutierrez (2009 Best of Show), Cecelia Linayao (2010 Best Black & White), Mark Alverez, Larry Brann, Mildred Brown, William Burgess, Henry Casas, Carol Clark, Eileen Doktorski, Melissa Ericson, Frank Faldmo, Eduardo Galvez,  Billie Joyce Hatzidakis, Jennifer Hauser, Rebecca Hayes (People's Choice 2010), Lee Rupp (People'sChoice 2010), Sydney Marquez, Melinda Meiojas, Lisa Owen Lynch, Shawndell Pickard, Mary Postovoit, Amor Miaflores-Bailey, Jennifer Rock, Karen Rohlin, Meguel Sumlin, Stephen Tawater, Clara Wallace, William Zin, Christine Zink and Manny Zuniga.

Kids and Families can Paint Too - Free

Families, children, and beginners join in the creative endeavor in the family section where more than 500 smaller squares are blocked out for spectators to paint with pastels on the asphalt canvas. There are more than 20 Youth competitors already registered for the Festival. Any youth artists can compete for the Best of Youth award but pre-registration is encouraged.

Best of Show winners receive a $500 cash prize and are honored the following year as the featured artist. Additional prizes are awarded for People's Choice, best Monochromatic, Best Youth and  Best Black and White.

Prizes this year include $500 plus a weekend at Welk Resorts for the Best of Show. Best Black and White at Night gets a Prismacolor pen set and sketch pad, People's Choice an Artist Carryall Bag, Best Youth receives a Pan Pastel Set, and Best Newcomer receives a set of Neupastels. The Committee award - known as the comeback award is for either an artist that hasn't been to the Temecula Festival in over a year, or someone who overcomes the odds to finish their painting. This person wins a free class at the Pasadena Learning & Product Art Expo October 28-30.

Jesus Gutierres - last year's featured artist.

The Ralph Love Plein Air Festival started four years ago and offers a $500 purchase award from the City of Temecula. First place award is $200 and a (3 days, 2 nights)  weekend stay at Dorland Mountain Arts Colony. Artists' choice award is $100.  An event within the event, Plein Air artists paint on location on canvas. Artists registered for Plein Air include: Joan Coffee, Lorraine Dawson, Suzanne Gibson, Carol Landry, Ginger Pena, Jack Ragland, Kathy Stradley, and John White.

Applications for both Plein Air artists and Street Painters are available at www.temeculacalifornia.com or by calling (951) 678-1456.