Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational events include the “Sunset Paint-out” at Montage Kapalua Bay.

LAHAINA – The 2018 Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational nine-day event runs from Saturday, Feb. 17, until Sunday, Feb. 25. The public will have three opportunities to observe 25 top plein air artists create finished landscape or portrait paintings in four hours or less.

This Presidents’ Week community event boasts six opportunities to view and purchase original artworks. The Pioneer Inn will host a free art lecture, “Artists of Influence,” by the Irvine Museum Collection of University of California Executive Director Jean Stern.

The gala weekend, Feb. 24-26, will showcase 175-plus freshly created artworks, a ticketed collectors’ gala, “Art to Heart,” and a youth paint-out for Maui schoolchildren.

The Royal Lahaina Resort Ballroom will become a 4,000-square-foot public gallery all day on Saturday and Sunday. Award-winning paintings, including the top three youth winning paintings, will be on display the entire weekend.

For local, Mainland and international artists, an invitation to the Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational is a sweet plum. The 2018 artist roster includes Maui icons Ronaldo Macedo, Carleton, Mike Carroll and Michael Clements.

Returning artists from 2017 are Greg Barnes (North Carolina), Mark Brown (Oahu), 2017 Best in Show Award winner Leon Holmes (Perth, Australia), Debra Huse (California), Greg LaRock (California), James McGrew (Oregon), Jim McVicker (California), Terry Miura (California), Mary Pettis (Minnesota), Aaron Schuerr (Montana), and Randall Sexton (California).

Artists returning from previous years (2006-2016) are Jacobus Baas (California), Morgan Samuel Price (Florida), Scott W. Prior (California), Larry Moore (Florida) and Joshua Been (Colorado).

New to the event are Suzie Baker (Texas), Jennifer Diehl (Oregon), Ray Hassard (Ohio), James Richards (Georgia) and Patrick Saunders (Missouri).

Maui Arts League will also present two workshops for professional and amateur artists. “The Effects of Light and Color,” instructed by Leon Holmes, runs Feb. 14-16. Morgan Samuel Price will teach “Palms in Dapples Light with its Many Moods of Green” on Feb. 26-28. Advanced workshops like these represent a rare opportunity to learn new techniques and receive consultation from master instructors.

For further information, visit www.mauipleinairpainting.org.