Color on the Common: Art Foundation Plans Second Annual Paint-Out in Walpole

Color on the Common: Art Foundation Plans Second Annual Paint-Out in Walpole By Sarah Sherman Renowned Walpole artist Richard Schmid believed that art has the power to do good. In his honor and in continuation of his legacy, the Richard Schmid Fine Art Foundation has planned a Second Annual Putney Painters & Friends Paint-Out on the Walpole Common for Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Putney Painters are a group founded by the late Richard Schmid, who passed away in 2021, and his wife Nancy Guzik in 1999. The group consists of dedicated artists from throughout the New England states who gather regularly to study painting at Village Arts of Putney, which houses the Painters and organizes workshops by members and visiting teachers for interested students from around the world. Throughout Schmid's distinguished career as an artist, author, and teacher, he promoted art education through his books, articles, workshops, seminars, and television presentations. He held a Doctorate in Fine Art and was a recipient of The John Singer Sargent Medal for Lifetime Achievement. The Putney Painters Paint-Out event on June 14 will feature many of the artists influenced by Schmid throughout his life as they demonstrate their plein-air painting skills live throughout the day for attendees to observe and admire. The participating paint-out artists will include many Putney Painters, such as Penelope Simpson Adams, Kathy Anderson, Carol Arnold, Stephanie Birdsall, Jo-Ann Denehy, Nancy Guzik, Charlie Hunter, Susan Jositas, Johanne Mangi, Cat Nunn, Julie Rosa, Madeline Ullrich, Dalan Wells and late artist member, Tim Thies. It will also feature additional artists Grace DeVito, Catherine Hafer, Dianne P Miller, Judy Stach, and John Traynor. Children (ages 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult during the event) and teens are also encouraged to attend and participate in hands-on artistic activities inside a dedicated area where they can create their own original artwork, make Father's Day cards, and enjoy face painting. Complimentary art supplies will be provided by the Richard Schmid Fine Art Foundation. The paint-out will be followed by an evening art exhibition and sale at St. John's Episcopal Church Parish Hall, located on the corner of Elm and Westminster Streets across from Walpole Common, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The exhibition will showcase the paintings created by the artists, as well as some of the newly created artwork by the children and teens. This sale is a unique opportunity to take home an original painting and to support the local art community. Both the paint-out and exhibition/sale are free and open to the public and one of the highlights of the event will be a raffle drawing where attendees can purchase tickets to take home one of Richard Schmid's signed landscape prints. In addition to paint-out activities, there will be a presentation of a $2,000 donation from the Richard Schmid Fine Art Foundation at St. John's Parish Hall that will be given to help support the Art After School program of Walpole. Similarly, 10 percent of proceeds from all painting sales that evening will also benefit the Art After School programs at both St. John's Parish Hall and River Valley Church. While the paint-out is scheduled for June 14, because it is held outside, there is a rain date of June 21 planned in the event of inclement weather. The 2025 paint-out is sponsored by Richard Schmid Fine Art Foundation, a private 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The community paint-outs aim to connect with and bring joy to the larger community by sharing the artistic experience, because, as an excerpt from Schmid's 2013 book "ALLA PRIMA II" asked, "What could be more wonderful than the life of a painter?" *** For more information, contact Nancy Guzik, president of the Richard Schmid Fine Art Foundation, at 603-499-3555 or president@rsfaf.org. To learn more about The Putney Painters and their upcoming workshops, demonstrations, and paint outs, join "The Putney Painters of Vermont" group on Facebook. To view artwork by Schmid, visit richardschmid.com or facebook.com/RichardSchmidArtist.