Plein Air Painters of the Jersey Coast

"Schooner at Horseshoe Cove" by Jim Ferrier There's nothing plain about "Impressionism to Realism," the exhibit of more than 200 paintings done en plein air (French for in the open) currently at the Guild of Creative Art in Shrewsbury.

The works by more than 40 New Jersey artists capture gardens, landscapes, seashore views and pastoral scenes and are hung salon style at the guild, located at 650 Broad St. in Shrewsbury.

The show will run through Sept. 25 at the guild, where hours are noon-4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Many towns provide the locales for the plein air paintings in the exhibit including: Monmouth Beach, Rumson, Little Silver, Fair Haven, Red Bank, Oceanport, Sea Bright, Long Branch, Allenhurst, Lakewood, Farmingdale, Middletown, Belford, Holmdel, Highlands, Atlantic Highlands, Brick, Locust, Port Monmouth.

The group started in 2003 and now has more than 90 members who create beautiful paintings while meeting the challenges presented by changing light and weather patterns.

The Plein Air Painters meet each Monday at a point identified via e-mail and return the second week to complete their paintings, then end with a critique of each other's work.

"October Morn" by Lee Johnson The exhibit changes every two

weeks with new pieces brought in as those on display are sold. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Alex's Lemonade Stand, a foundation that benefits children with cancer.

For more information on the exhibit, contact the Guild of Creative Art at (732) 741-1441 or visit www.papjc.com.

"A Perfect Day" by Mimi McCabe "Sandy Path" by Jim Ferrier "Tide Change" by Robert Baum