Award-winning artist Jane Hunt from Colorado will be painting Maui for the first time at the invitational.

LAHAINA – February will mark Maui Arts League’s 15th year of staging the Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational. The 2020 draw of 24 award-winning landscape artists guarantees a high level of fine art for the community to enjoy.

Esteemed Hawaii landscape painters Mark Brown, Carleton, Mike Carroll, Michael Clements, Joe Fletcher and Ronaldo Macedo will be here to celebrate this milestone.

Nationally acclaimed artists back by “collectors’ demand” are Suzie Baker of Texas; Greg Barnes of North Carolina; Hiu Lai Chong of Maryland; Ken DeWaard of Maine; James McGrew of Oregon; Morgan Samuel Price of Florida; Michele Usibelli of Washington; Leon Holmes of Perth, Australia; and Mark Fehlman, Calvin Liang, Terry Miura, David Savellano, Randall Sexton and Jim Wodark of California.

Acclaimed nationally but new to the event are California artists Danny Griego, Jeff Horn and Randall Stauss, and Colorado painter Jane Hunt.

For more information on these celebrated artists and their works, visit www.MauiArtsLeague.org/events.

The Plein Air Painting Invitational kicks off Saturday, Feb. 15, with a “Paint Out” at Lahaina Harbor. All 24 artists paint harbor scenes from 7:30 to 11 a.m. Visitors can watch artists create a finished artwork in under four hours; immediately, fresh originals go on sale at 11:30 a.m. in the Pioneer Inn courtyard. This family-friendly, educational event is inspirational for art lovers of any age.

The public will have five more opportunities to see original paintings of Maui by some of America’s best outdoor landscape artists, including a ticketed gourmet banquet Friday, Feb. 21, and a free public gallery at Royal Lahaina Resort all day on Feb.22 and 23.

The Pioneer Inn will also host a public art history lecture by Jean Stern, executive director of the University of California’s Irvine Museum Collection of the.

Maui Arts League is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to encourage art appreciation in the community and found a fine art museum on West Maui. MAL also provides art books for Maui schoolchildren, scholarships for graduating seniors pursuing higher art education and a free plein air workshop for Maui keiki at Campbell Park in Lahaina.

Maui Plein Air was founded by a group of Hawaii artists called “The Islanders,” who wanted to showcase their works.

In 2005, Ronaldo Macedo of Lahaina and Saim Caglayon of Kauai spearheaded the first invitational, which took place at Village Galleries and ended with a bonfire party at the beach. Macedo still participates every year and provides guidance for the event.

Lois Reiswig was an early Maui Plein Air volunteer who offered to set up the nonprofit organization. Since then, with the help of a dedicated band of volunteers and community support, the weeklong event has developed the national prestige and draw it enjoys today.

In 2017, Tom Bell of Royal Lahaina Resort offered their ballroom space for this community art event. This 4,000- square-foot gallery allows art enthusiasts to view paintings both at a distance and up close. The space also accommodates a luxurious banquet, community art lectures, discussions and live demonstrations by artists.

“As we celebrate 15 years, we want to thank all the people who have attended and supported the Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational through the years,” said Bryant Neal, 2020 event coordinator.

“Our sponsors, donors, collectors, volunteers and vendors share our love of art and understand how much it means to our community. Maui Arts League is grateful to be able to connect West Maui residents to the beauty of art.”