Some of the best plein air (painting on location) artists in the country are coming to West Maui this week to participate in the Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational. The event begins Saturday, Feb. 19, with the “Kickoff Paint Out” at D.T. Fleming Beach Park and Kapalua Bay. Here, Billyo O’Donnell paints the Pioneer Inn area during the Pioneer Inn Lahaina Harbor Quick Draw.

WEST MAUI — World-renowned artists are coming to West Maui to capture its incredible island landscapes and lifestyle in the Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational.

The event begins on Saturday, Feb. 19, from noon to 3 p.m. with the “Kick off Paint Out” in Kapalua at Kapalua Bay and D.T. Fleming Beach Park. The freshly painted works of art will be displayed for sale at 4 p.m. at Village Galleries in The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua and throughout the week.

On Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m. at the Pioneer Inn, Jean Stern, executive director of The Irvine Museum in California, will discuss “Early Painters of Hawaii.”

On Friday, Feb. 25, from 9 to 11 a.m., the artists will participate in the Pioneer Inn Lahaina Harbor Quick Draw. Under the gaze of hundreds of onlookers, the artists will have just two hours to complete a painting. The public has an opportunity to watch a painting being created from start to finish.

Also on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m., the Maui No Ka ‘Oi Magazine Gala Reception will be held at The Village Gallery at 120 Dickenson St. in Lahaina. Three of the best paintings from each artist plus the Quick Draw painting will be unveiled at the event. Awards will be given, and art collectors and lovers will have an opportunity to view and purchase the fresh work. Refreshments will be served.

On Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 4 p.m., the “Sunset Paint Out” is slated at Kamehameha Iki Park. The artists will gather at the popular beach park next to 505 Front Street to find inspiration in the sunset, beach scenes and canoes on display in the park.

On Saturday, Feb. 26, from 9 to 11 a.m., Coffee and Pastries with the Artists will be held at The Village Gallery. The artists will replace paintings sold on Friday night, and the public will have one last chance to interact with all of the artists and purchase work from the event. The show and sale ends at 9 p.m. that evening.

Two participating artists, Jennifer McChristian and Billyo O’Donnell, will teach workshops during the Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational (MPAPI).

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

The invitational offers workshops with MPAPI artists that expose Maui’s art community to new talent each year.

For more information on workshop scholarships and registration, e-mail Bonnie Fox at bonnie.fox@sympatico.ca.

This year’s lineup includes George Allan, Michael Clements, Betty Hay Freeland, Carleton Kinkade, Ronaldo Macedo and Macario Pascual of Maui; Ken Auster, Jacobus Baas, Jeff Horn, Jennifer McChristian, Clark G. Mitchell, Randall Sexton, Bryan Mark Taylor and Jean Stern of California; Morgan Samuel Price and Larry Moore of Florida; Scott Burdick and Dee Beard Dean of North Carolina; Pierre Bouret of Kauai; Gavin Brooks of Maryland; Mark Brown of Oahu; Darrell Hill of the Big Island; Mike Carroll of Lanai; Billyo O’Donnell of Missouri; Colin Page of Maine and Mary Pettis of Minnesota.

For more information, or to volunteer, contact event coordinator Cari Tilley at (808) 214-4492 or visit the website at www.mauipleinairpainting.com.