Artists paint at the 2013 “Kick-Off Paint Out” at D.T. Fleming Beach Park.

LAHAINA – On Feb. 15-23, 2014, the ninth annual Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational will bring together 25 of the finest plein air painters from Hawaii and the U.S. Mainland to compete, reconnect and create original works of art.

The public can experience the island captured on canvas, as participating artists paint on location with works honoring Maui and its culture. All events will be held in West Maui.

“The success of this annual event is directly attributed to the caliber of artists,” said Lynn Shue, owner of The Village Galleries.

“Their paintings pay witness to Maui’s history, capturing the beauty and lifestyle that makes our island home unique. Not only are these artists exceptionally talented individuals, but they also have a genuine aloha for our island.”

Hawaii artists participating in the 2014 event are Ronaldo Macedo, Macario Pascual and Carleton of Lahaina, Michael Clements of Kula, Mike Carroll of Lanai City, Pierre Bouret of Hanalei, Saim Caglayan of Kilauea, Jenifer Prince of Princeville and Mark Brown of Honolulu.

Pepper (above) and The Dirty Heads will perform on Thursday, Dec. 26, at 7:30 p.m. in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Yokouchi Pavilion. Based in San Diego, Pepper has released five studio albums and a live album. Dirty Heads is a reggae band from Huntington Beach, California, with a melodic style that includes hip hop and ska punk genres. Tickets are $39 in advance and $45 the day of the show for general admission and $59/$65 for VIP seats. Call 242-SHOW.

Prominent artists hailing from the U.S. Mainland are Ken Auster and Jacobus Baas of Laguna Beach, CA; Hiu Lai Chong of Rockville, MD; Debra Huse of Newport Beach, CA; Thomas Jefferson Kitts of Portland, OR; Colin Page of Camden, ME; Mary Pettis of Taylors Falls, MN; Randall Sexton of Vallejo, CA; Gil Dellinger of Bend, OR; Keith Wicks of Sonoma, CA; Hai Ou Hou of Stevensville, MD; Lori Putnam of Franklin, TN; Dave Santillanes of Fort Collins, CO; David Savellano of Alameda, CA; Ned Meuller of Renton, WA; and Greg LaRock of Newport Beach, CA.

“Each artist has deservedly earned a coveted spot in the world of plein air painting,” said event Coordinator Rhonda Pang.

“Attendees are in for a treat as they watch these artists translate everyday life using their senses, from sight to sound, from temperature to atmosphere, and then channel these impressions into their vision in paint on canvas. Each piece is one-of-a-kind and truly amazing!”

Free and open to the public, a full schedule of events is planned.

The invitational officially begins with a “Kick Off Paint Out” at and around Lahaina Jodo Mission on Saturday, Feb. 15, from 7:30 to 11 a.m. The artists’ freshly painted works will be displayed for sale from 11 a.m. to noon at Lahaina Jodo Mission.

ProArts presents “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” as the second show of its 2013-14 season. In this Tony Award-winning musical comedy, six adolescent outsiders, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn’t everything — and that losing doesn’t necessarily make you a loser — when vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime. The play will be staged Dec. 19-21 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 22 at 3 p.m. at the ProArts Playhouse in Azeka (Makai) Shopping Center at 1280 S. Kihei Road. Call 463-6550 for tickets or more information.

Throughout the week, artists will capture Maui’s unique landscape and lifestyle on canvas through Friday, Feb. 21.

On Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m., Jean Stern, executive director of The Irvine Museum in California, will once again conduct his popular, free lecture at the Pioneer Inn in Lahaina.

This year’s lecture is titled “Masterpieces of Plein Air Painting.” In conjunction with the lecture, an Artists’ Mini-Paintings Silent Auction with paintings brought from their home studios will be held from 6 to 7 p.m., with final bidding following the lecture from 8 to 8:30 p.m.

The next day, Feb. 19, at 4 p.m., artists will gather at Kamehameha Iki Park next to 505 Front Street in Lahaina for the Pacific’O Sunset Paint Out, finding inspiration in the sunset, beach scenes and canoes on display.

On Friday, Feb. 21, from 9 to 11 a.m., the Pioneer Inn Lahaina Harbor Quick Draw will attract hundreds of onlookers. Each artist will have just two hours to complete a painting. The public will have an opportunity to watch a painting being created from start to finish.

The week’s fresh works will be unveiled on Friday evening, Feb. 21, at The Village Galleries at 120 Dickenson St. in Lahaina. New this year, an Exclusive Collectors’ Hour has been announced from 5 to 6 p.m. At this ticketed event, collectors will have priority viewing and first opportunity to purchase the week’s paintings. During this exclusive hour, champagne and refreshments will be served. Tickets are limited; as the event gets closer, check the website at www.MauiPleinAirPainting.org for details.

The Gala Reception from 6 to 9 p.m. is the highlight of the week and begins with a traditional Hawaiian blessing, artists’ introductions and awards presentation, culminating with the cutting of a lei signifying the opening of the gallery. Three paintings from each artist, plus the Quick Draw paintings, will be unveiled.

The event continues on Saturday, Feb. 23, from 9 to 11 a.m. with Coffee and Pastries with the Artists. The artists will replace paintings sold on Friday night, and the public will have a final opportunity to interact with all of the artists and purchase work from the event at The Village Galleries in Lahaina.

The Plein Air Final Sale will take place on Sunday, Feb. 23, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and will be the public’s last chance to view and purchase paintings at the Village Galleries in Lahaina.

The Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational will also host two 3-day workshops with participating artists. A Pre-Event Workshop with LaRock will be held on Feb. 12-14, and a Post-Event Workshop with Page will be held on Feb. 24-26. For those who have signed up for a workshop, participants will have the opportunity to meet the teaching artist the evening before the workshop.

For more information, visit www.MauiPleinAirPainting.org or call (808) 298-9119.

The 2014 event is coordinated by Islanders-Hawaii Plein Air Painters, The Village Galleries and West Maui Cultural Council, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. A portion of the art sales will go toward art scholarships and programs on Maui.