Local Artists Use Cranford As A Backdrop During 'Plein Air' Arts Festival

The Cranford Plein Air event “Paint the Town” offered it third Quick Draw contest to all artists in the area on Saturday. This two-and-a-half hour painting competition held in downtown Cranford spanned a four-block area.

Jersey Central Art Studios hosted the third plein air painting event. Plein air means “in the open air” and refers to dynamic outdoor landscape painting. Twenty-eight professional plein air artists from ten states were selected by judge and master plein air painter Joseph McGurl to compete in the event.

The artsists set up their easels on sidewalks downtown as well as near parks and in front of some homes and businesses. The artists worked while pedestrians watch them transform local landmarks into works of art.

In addition to the painting competition, the Cranford Plein Air event also featured an evening of music by the Borther John Brown Band Thursday.