The public can watch the artists at work at the Pacific’O Sunset Paint Out and other events.

LAHAINA — Lahaina artist Ronaldo Macedo recently returned from the prestigious Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational.

This was Macedo’s sixth year participating in the Laguna event.

Upon returning, he announced that six artists from the Laguna Invitational are confirmed to participate in the Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational (MPAPI) on Feb. 19-26, 2011.

These artists include Ken Auster, Jennifer McChristian, Larry Moore, Randall Sexton, Gavin Brooks (2010 Laguna Best Quick Draw Award winner) and Bryan Mark Taylor (2010 Laguna Collector’s Choice Award winner).

Twenty-five of the country’s most reputable plein air painters will participate in the 2011 event in West Maui.

Lahaina artist Ronaldo Macedo participated in the recent Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational.

As one of the founders of the Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational, Macedo’s experience of judging and participating in several plein air events around the country has made the Valley Isle festival one of the most impressive in the nation.

“Maui is changing fast, and artists are passionately recording an evolving landscape. As painters, we strive to honor the island and its people with our work,” said Macedo.

The Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational will commence with the Kickoff Paint Out on Feb. 19 at two of Maui’s most stunning locations: D.T. Fleming Beach and Kapalua Bay.

On Feb. 22, guest lecturer Jean Stern, executive director of The Irvine Museum in California, will present “Early Painters of Hawaii” at the Pioneer Inn in Lahaina.

Also popular featured events during the week include the Pacific’O Sunset Paint Out and Pioneer Inn Lahaina Harbor Quick Draw.

The week’s festivities will conclude at the Gala Reception on Friday, Feb. 25, where the artists’ paintings will be unveiled at The Village Gallery at 120 Dickenson St. in Lahaina.

Art lovers and collectors will have an opportunity to admire and purchase the newly created works while enjoying refreshments and mingling with artists.

Two distinguished artists, McChristian and Billyo O’Donnell, will teach workshops during the upcoming MPAPI.

Both experienced teachers, McChristian’s workshop will be held Feb. 15-17 and O’Donnell’s on Feb. 28 to March 2.

The purpose of the workshop program is to reach out to the Maui community by giving local artists the opportunity to study plein air painting with two distinguished MPAPI artists without having to leave the island.

The invitational offers workshops with MPAPI artists who have not taught here before to expose Maui’s art community to new talent each year.

For more information on the workshops, e-mail Bonnie Fox at bonnie.fox@sympatico.ca.

The 2011 event is coordinated by Islanders-Hawaii Plein Air Painters, West Maui Cultural Council and The Village Gallery. Event sponsors include Kaanapali Land Management Corp.; The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua; Pioneer Inn; Pacific’O Restaurant; Maui Land & Pineapple Co.; Maui Printing Co.; and The Irvine Museum.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information, or to volunteer, contact event Coordinator Cari Tilley at (808) 214-4492 or visit www.mauipleinairpainting.com.