Open air painting competition: 14th edition (all participants welcome)

This year’s winners were:
     1st prize: Antoine Faure
     2nd prize: Gilles Berodier
     3rd prize: Lionel Erba

In 1874, during the impressionists’ first exhibition in Paris, the French public discovered some of the great names in the history of art: Monet, Renoir, Degas, Sisley and Pissarro. All except one of these talented artists had adopted a new way of creating their pieces...in the great outdoors! Equipped with their easel and a picnic basket, the impressionists explored the Ile de France, immortalising fleeting instants, capturing the essence of an atmosphere, recreating the poetic truth of a scene. Even today, Degas’ paintings of the race track bring the ambience of the era’s race days to life. The impressionists “country picnics” greatly inspired the movement, which will forever be etched in our memories thanks to their remarkable works of “open air” art.

On the 11th July 2010, France Galop and Maisons-Laffitte Town Hall welcomed the general public and a palette of artists onto the central lawns of Maisons-Laffitte racecourse. For the 14th consecutive year, artists were invited to let their creative juices flow in this open-air “studio”, with the exceptional backdrop of a day at the races.

Theme
To recreate the atmosphere of a day at the racecourse

Concept of the painting competition
The competition was free of charge and open to all, from budding artists to experienced painters.

On the 11th July 2010, from 8am onwards, the gates of Maisons-Laffitte racecourse were opened and competition supervisors received the artists entered into the painting competition. Each participant was given an entry number, which was marked on the support upon which they would paint their entry (each participant was only allowed to register one support, which had to be blank). The artists were also given a map of the racecourse, showing the areas which could be accessed by the public and by the painters. Participants were then let loose to set up their “studio” anywhere on the racecourse’s central lawn, by the weighing-in room, by the stables or around the paddock. They were asked to bear in mind that “the horse” was not the subject of the competition, which gave a large scope for the different perspectives and atmospheres of the day.

From late morning onwards, a jury comprising different members of the art world (journalists, artists, academy presidents, etc.) strolled around the racecourse with a view to awarding three prizes. The paintings had to be finished by 4.30pm, and were then exhibited on a central area of the racecourse for the prize giving, which took place between 5pm and 6pm. Participants then came together for a celebratory drink in one of the racecourse’s exhibition rooms, during which the prizes were awarded.

The 15th edition of the painting competition will be held during the next "Déjeuner sur l'Herbe", in July 2011. We hope to see you there!