The Old School House Arts Centre (TOSH) in Qualicum Beach saw many artists in action on Saturday.
The day started with an art fair and hundreds of people dropped by to watch more than 50 artists in action and enjoy live music by the Maureen Washington Quintett in the TOSH parking lot. John Hofman of Nanaimo who has not missed a single race was the winner of the 23rd annual Grand Prix d’Art painting race.
It featured 36 painters spread throughout the town painting en plein air: what they see before them. Armed with their canvases, paints and brushes, the pros and the hobbyists got to it at 11 a.m. and completed their pieces at 2 p.m. Although the rain held off for the event, some gusts of wind toppled a few art easels displaying the artists framed pieces.
