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As Two Rivers Plein Air judge Patrick Saunders perused paintings Friday night at the New Braunfels Art League, he relied on the artwork to give him his first impression of the town and considered the stories that they relayed, he said. Last week, artists dispersed all over the New Braunfels area to create work emphasizing its unique historical and natural beauty and show their interpretation of the town. The 2024 Two Rivers Plein Air competition concluded with a reception and awards ceremony at the New Braunfels Art League Friday.
The finished paintings displayed at the art league depicted scenes at Gruene Estate, the gazebo at Landa Park, trees by the river and many more. Artists found themselves painting the sides of buildings with rich histories in the area such as Johnson Furniture and Gruene Hall. With a good painting, you can not only see the place, but also feel the temperature or hear the sounds, Saunders said.
“A good painting is not necessarily something that’s just a beautifully technically painted picture,” Saunders said. “It’s not just about the image, it’s often about how it takes you further and evokes other senses.” Saunders chose League City resident Lisette McClung’s painting titled “Bridge Over Peaceful Waters” at Camp Huaco Springs as the first place winner.
McClung highlighted the beauty of the New Braunfels area and said there are a wide array of scenes to paint. San Antonio artist Alston Cox described New Braunfels as a “painter’s dream” and hoped art show attendees saw how the artists celebrated the town. Many of the artists described how they enjoy the extra challenges that come with plein air painting and the opportunity to immerse themselves in nature.
Artist Shea Daniel-Youngblood loves everything about painting outside. It challenges the artist to hyper-focus as the sun moves, the wind blows and the people and traffic pass by, she said. She enjoys capturing the energy of each environment, ranging from frantic to serene.
One of the scenes that artist Gena Destri from Kyle painted was a tree by the river in Hinman Island Park. She was drawn to the scene because of the dappling light under the tree and the blue of the water, she said. “I love being outside — I love soaking up the energy of nature — and I love painting so combining the two is just like nothing else, it’s so fulfilling and amazing, Destri said.
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