Dozens Canvass Mission’s Grounds

More than 100 outdoor artists set up their easels all over Mission San Juan Capistrano this week in an attempt to capture the area’s charm and beauty during the fourth annual Outdoor Painting Festival and Competition.

Some artists painted the ruins of the church, others chose Father Serra’s room, and many stuck with the well-known arches in the mission’s central courtyard.

“It’s hot, it’s cold or it’s wet,” says veteran outdoor artist Joan Marron-LaRue, who rose at 5 a.m. and set her easel up on the roof of Serra’s room for a different view. “It looks glamorous, but it’s work.”

Marron-LaRue selected a view that interested her and waited for the best lighting--she prefers the soft light of dawn or dusk. She then created a few preliminary thumbnail sketches before beginning her painting.

Like the majority of artists in the competition, she paints with oils and completes several paintings each day.

“I can’t decide what to paint next,” said Paula Bacinski, an artist who has participated in the contest every year.

Bacinski painted in the serene Bell Garden in the morning. She then moved onto the main courtyard, joining other artists who crowded into the area during the week to get a good view of the lily-filled central fountain.

After a week of uninterrupted painting, the artists will be exhibiting and selling their paintings on the mission grounds from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

A portion of sale proceeds will be donated to the California Art Club and the Mission Preservation Fund.