CAPE ANN, ONE BRUSHSTROKE AT A TIME

For one glorious week, Cape Ann became an outdoor artist’s studio as Cape Ann Plein Air celebrated its 10th anniversary, bringing accomplished painters from near and far to capture the region’s landscapes, harbors, historic architecture and coastal light. The festivities included the popular Quick Draw in Manchester, artist demonstrations at Hammond Castle Museum in Magnolia and the Crane Estate in Ipswich, and painters setting up easels at picturesque spots throughout Cape Ann, including the Essex Shipbuilding Museum.

A gala at the North Shore Arts Association in East Gloucester brought artists and art lovers together, while the week wrapped up Sunday with a judge’s talk on what makes a great painting. Pictured here are artists at work, including David Drinon at Hammond Castle, Hilary Scott at Castle Hill and Lon Brauer in Essex. Ten years in, Cape Ann Plein Air continues to celebrate the region’s enduring place in American art.

Photos: Benjamin Marcaurelle, Amy Sweeney, Memory Lane, and Neal Levy.