Artists in Paint the Cape competition raise $3,000

news-press.com
January 15th, 2010

Artist Tara Grim won top honors in Cape Coral's first outdoor art competition, Paint the Cape.

Grim painted her winning piece, "Palms of Cape Harbour," last week, when the competing artists spent some of the week working outside to capture Cape Coral's diversity.

Twenty-six artists completed 43 pieces. All were for sale, with proceeds benefiting the Cape Coral Community Foundation.

Grim entered three paintings in the competition and said that the winning piece was inspired by individual experiences.

"I didn't want it to be a specific site," Grim said. "I wanted it to be whatever experience you've had, to be more universal."

Grim used an eclectic color palette for the palms, making them almost explode off the canvas. The energy in the painting appealed to judge Val Sandell, a Sarasota artist.

"It was artistically rendered," Sandell said of Grim's work. "It had a lyrical sense to it."

Sandell said that she was impressed with the body of work the artists came up with, especially because she understands the complexity of working under deadlines and in unfamiliar territory.

"It's definitely a good way to learn a place," she said. "I enjoy looking at the artwork. I like to see what other artists are doing."

The weekend competition included a Quick Draw contest open to artists and students. Artists were required to complete a piece of work within a three-hour window. Nine painters participated and some artists painted inside because of the weather.

"I think, all things considered, it was a successful event," said organizer Shirley Hales.

Hales said that the artists helped to raise more than $3,000.

A portion of the proceeds benefited the Cape Coral Community Foundation.

"The highlight, for me, was seeing the artists get to know each other," Hales said. "They were real troopers. The cooperation throughout the event was terrific."