Artists Create Works In An Hour

Always held on the last Saturday in April, QuickDraw at Laurel Ridge Country Club inspires guests and artists alike. Imagine an event that allows you to bask in creative energy as you stroll through 36 studios in a scenic pavilion, witnessing creation in progress.

QuickDraw pits artists against the clock – voluntarily – while they work in public. The event, which raises money to help art teachers connect with impact, draws people year after year to attend, paint, contribute, and support the cause of art education.

You gotta see it to believe it.

QuickDraw’s annual ‘art in the making’ event takes place Saturday, April 27 at Laurel Ridge Country Club in Waynesville,

QuickDraw puts the fun in arts fundraising. The artists and painters displaying their “performance art” at QuickDraw provide a creative, fun, and eye-popping way you can support arts education in schools.

Your art purchase at auction boosts creative teaching, enhances learning and funds college scholarships. It places the funding right where it’s needed: on the shelves of school art teachers and in college scholarships.

Stroll among artists, look over the shoulders of regional titans as they build works in an hour! Picture these artists speaking on the block for your entertainment and spirited bidding. Nosh with artists over a buffet, where artists meet you, their newest collector. Display your fresh, fine original work at home, with a backstory you can really brag about!

QuickDraw’s fast-paced schedule includes a live demo hour (with a race-the-clock challenge), a lively art auction, and a meet-the-artists social.

So how can live creation be any good?

No pressure, right? Artists step out of the studios and their comfort zones to visibly support art teaching. Artists mentally reframe how they work, joining a venue to work live, and most importantly speak up for education. Artists offer their originals at auction, donating half or more of the sale for teaching grants and scholarships through the local schools foundation. In 11 years, QuickDraw buyers funded $13,000 in college scholarships and $32K in innovative teaching projects, boosting creativity in every grade.

It’s definitely audience participation. Your ticket lets you enter a ‘wow’ experience, great food and fun in a spectacular setting. Buying original QuickDraw art that you saw birthed is a do-good experience, and an education in itself. You’ll come back year after year for the fun, and a fresh piece of art for your life and work. Bring your checkbook, and come early so you don’t miss a minute of the amazing live art hour!

Easels Old and New

QuickDraw showcases favorite artists you’ll want to see, and new ones to discover, keeping it fun and fresh for repeat visitors. You’ll find QuickDraw favorites, with proven success at raising funds for education with their regional presence, crowd-pleasing abilities and enthusiasm. (Ann Vasilik, Teresa Pennington, Jon Houglum, Sarah Sneeden, Bob Martin, Pamela Haddock) New artists contribute with portfolio, medium, and event appeal.

The Medium is the Message

Stroll along to find watercolor, oil, acrylic, pastel, colored pencil, sumi-e inks, metal, clay, wood, stained glass, textiles, mixed media, collage, fiber, glass, jewelry. Brave “clock-challenge” live artists challenge themselves to finish in the sixty-minute window.

Without the luxury to second-guess, they work by pure instinct and inspiration, for a fresh, pared-down piece. Artists using other media create at a relaxed pace, allowing you to chat. These less-driven demonstrators offer at silent auction a finished original work for your bids while you stroll.

After the live quickdraw hour and a stop to mat and frame, artists describe their works on the block for your spirited bidding. Afterward, chat with relieved and relaxed artists over hors d’oeuvres at table.

If You Go: QuickDraw, Saturday, April 27 from 4:30 until 9:30 p.m. Come to relax, get your auction number, and drink in the view. Tickets are $50 and include the QuickDraw live art hour, social, auction registration, and meet-the-artists buffet. For event schedule, participating artists and ticket outlets, visit www.WNCQuickDraw.com. For more information, call (828) 734-8098.