Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures -- Henry Ward Beecher

I’ve drawn the conclusion that I’m not painting an overly-rosy picture when I say the first annual Canaveral Seashore Plein Air Paintout promises to be a colorful event. From Nov. 8 – Nov. 13, 2010, 30 of the most talented landscape artists in the United States will plant their easels at the seashore and surrounding areas in Mosquito Lagoon and historic downtown New Smyrna Beach, to create paintings "en plein air" (open air) for the public to admire and purchase.

It’s for a good cause, too! This first-time-ever event is hosted by the Friends of Canaveral, a volunteer, non-profit organization that partners with the National Park Service to preserve, maintain and protect this pristine shoreline for future generations.  The goal of the Paintout is to raise money to build a historical, interactive environmental learning center to teach shool children about the environment and to increase public awareness and support for the park.