First-time collectors celebrate with artist Leon Holmes.

LAHAINA – Maui Arts League sponsors, volunteers and advisers are planning the largest Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational yet on Feb. 16-24.

“Maui Arts League and our partners aim to give our entire community a beautiful art experience, watching award-winning landscape artists interpret and express the beauty of our island and learning about fine art. We want our talented, creative children to consider fine art as a profession,” said Lois Reiswig, president of the Maui Arts League nonprofit.

“I encourage art enthusiasts of all ages to check out our nationally recognized event on Facebook, Instagram and www.CelebrateArtOnMaui.org.”

Sponsoring three public Maui Plein Air “Paint Outs” during Presidents’ Week are the Pioneer Inn at Lahaina Harbor, Royal Lahaina Resort and Maui No Ka ?’Oi Magazine at Kaanapali Beach and Montage Kapalua Bay.

For Maui students in grades 3-12, Honu and Frida’s restaurants are sponsoring a free painting workshop on Feb. 17. The next evening, Feb. 18, Pioneer Inn will host a free college-level art appreciation lecture by renowned art curator Jean Stern, associate director of The Irvine Museum Collection and California Art Institute of the University of California, Irvine.

Maui Arts League also pays tuition for two high school art students to participate in a three-day adult painting workshop taught by plein air professionals Suzie Baker or Josh Clare. Later in the spring, Maui Arts League will award cash scholarships to two Maui graduates planning to study fine arts.

During the Awards Exhibition and Art Sale on Feb. 23-24 at the Royal Lahaina Resort Ballroom, art marketing professional Kim von Tempsky will moderate an artist panel discussion, and art educator Rae Takemoto will lead a discussion about the future West Maui Fine Art Museum.

New this February are ticketed “collectors’ parties” before every art exhibition and sale, with the opportunity to break bread with artists and early entry to the sale. On Feb. 23, art lovers can “Take an Artist to Breakfast” at a special Royal Lahaina Resort buffet.

Reiswig said that art collectors are not art dealers, but “folks of all backgrounds who enjoy having beautiful fine art in their homes. Plein air paintings are a safe way to buy art – directly from the artist you watched create it – and unlike reproductions, original paintings have intrinsic value and last a lifetime.”

Art experts agree, counseling first-time collectors to buy what “grabs you.” At home, the same warm feeling wells up with every viewing. As Christie’s Realtor and Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational sponsor Mary Anne Fitch says, “Nothing says good taste like fine art on the walls of your home.”

Maui Plein Air artists receive a full commission on sales of their paintings, and another portion of the sale price supports Maui Arts League’s mission to showcase, cultivate and build appreciation for visual fine arts while creating unique opportunities for people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds to embrace the experience of fine art.

For details on collectors’ parties, week-long event passes, tables for the Awards Gala and a full schedule of all public events, visit www.CelebrateArtOnMaui.org, or call Reiswig at 665-1491 to set up a sponsorship package or to volunteer your services.