Part of the Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational, the Quick Draw Paint Out at Hanakao‘o Beach Park (Canoe Beach) and vicinity is set for Friday, Feb. 23, from 9 to 11 a.m., sponsored by Mala, Honu and Frida's restaurants. The public has an opportunity to watch artists — including West Maui painter Carleton (above) — create paintings from start to finish in just two hours.

LAHAINA – The 2018 Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational coming up on Feb. 17-25 is focusing on three educational offerings for the public.

Jean Stern, associate director of the University of California, Irvine, Museum and Art Institute of California, will present the lecture “Artists of Influence.”

Stern was director of the Irvine Museum, where his collected works of the California Impressionists was first officially recognized as a 20th century genre. His talk will focus on the specific design and expression innovations that define the works of master artists.

The lecture is free and open to the public from 7 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 19, in the Pioneer Inn Courtyard. An exclusive group of original mini paintings depicting a variety of subjects and styles will be offered in a silent auction.

The following weekend, Feb. 24-25, Maui Arts League will conduct two free forums that are geared to answer common questions about fine art as a profession.

On Saturday afternoon from 3 to 4 p.m., four professional artists will explain how their careers started and developed. Discussion facilitator Kim von Tempsky, formerly senior vice president of Lahaina Galleries, will give the audience ample time to ask questions.

Maui art students, new artists and art lovers will enjoy hearing about the inspiration and perspiration required to become a successful artist and the benefits of following your muse.

The “Careers in Art” panelists are Ronaldo Macedo, Mary Pettis, Patrick Saunders and Leon Holmes.

Macedo grew up in Rio de Janeiro and studied illustration at Cal State Long Beach. His quiet manner does not hint at the varied experiences that influenced his art. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to hear his story.

Pettis is a classically trained artist who spent many years in the studio mastering classical techniques of layering and glazing with oils, often spending weeks perfecting one painting. One day, she stepped into the big “studio of the outdoors,” which spoke to her soul.

Saunders didn’t start out as an oil painter. First, he worked as a musician, illustrator, designer, animator, educator and entrepreneur. He said he does not believe in talent, but diligence. Hear more about his career in his own words.

Holmes, of Perth, Australia, attended an art trade school and then a three-year program in illustration and advertising. After working in advertising at a prestigious agency, he found his passion for painting outdoors. He will teach an adult workshop on how to depict light during this year’s Maui Plein Air event.

On Sunday, Feb. 25, another panel will convene to discuss how fine art benefits our community. The panelists are not artists, but their careers are connected to art.

The “Benefits of Art” panelists are John Inskeep III, Rae Takemoto, Neida Bangerter and Patricia White.

Inskeep, of Maui and Portland, Oregon, is a collector and lover of fine art. He enjoys visiting museums and galleries, and attending art events to broaden his appreciation of fine art. Retirement allows Inskeep and his wife to spend more time appreciating the benefits of owning art.

Takemoto is the arts integration coordinator at Pomaika?i Elementary School in Kahului. This public school offers children a whole school arts integration curriculum as defined by the Changing Education Through the Arts (CETA) Program developed by the Kennedy Center.

Bangerter is the gallery director at Schaefer International Gallery at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Since 1995, she has directed many on-loan exhibitions. Her displays include various art forms, from traditional painting, sculpture and photography to Hawaiian traditional handicrafts like kapa printing, weaving, Japanese bamboo and paper art, and hula compositions.

White is a marriage and family therapist in Lahaina who uses art therapy to promote healing in certain clients who have trouble expressing their emotions. She will discuss the rationale behind this powerful counseling tool and a national initiative to create a certified career field in art therapy.

In addition to these educational events, Maui Arts League and Maui No Ka ?Oi Magazine are presenting a free art workshop for 56 Maui youth registered through their art teachers.

Kim von Tempsky will award first, second and third place in three divisions: K-5, Middle School and High School. Maui Arts League will also award scholarships to two more high school art students to attend Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational adult workshops, taught this year by Holmes and Morgan Samuel Price.

Watching 25 plein air painters complete their original paintings in four hours or less is an educational and pleasant outing for the entire family.

Paint-outs and exhibitions are free at Lahaina Harbor on Saturday, Feb. 17, from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m., Kapalua Bay on Wednesday, Feb. 21, from 3 to 6 p.m., and Hanakao?o (Canoe) Beach on Friday, Feb. 23, from 9 to 11 a.m.

This year’s participating artists hail from Hawaii, the Mainland USA and Australia. They are: Jacobus Baas (CA), Suzie Greer Baker (TX), Greg Barnes (NC), Joshua Been (CO), Mark Brown (Oahu), Carleton (Maui), Mike Carroll (Lanai), Michael Clements (Maui), Jennifer Diehl (OR), Ray Hassard (OH), Leon Holmes (AU), Debra Huse (CA), Greg LaRock (CA), Ronaldo Macedo (Maui), James McGrew (OR), Jim McVicker (CA), Terry Miura (CA), Larry Moore (FL), Mary Pettis (MN), Morgan Samuel Price (FL), Scott Prior (CA), James Richards (GA), Patrick Saunders (MO), Aaron Schuerr (MT) and Randy Sexton (CA).

For further information on all the public events at the Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational, visit www.mauipleinairpainting.org or call Katherine Smith at (808) 268-0787.