Even if you don’t paint, there’s a lot to love about Glen Arbor Art Center’s upcoming Plein Air Weekend. One, it’s a great reason to roam around one of the prettiest peninsulas in the North in search of artists at work. (The theme of this year’s Quick Draw event, in which artists have two hours on Friday, Aug. 6 to create a finished painting is "Capture Village Life: Images of Empire and Glen Arbor.")

Two, without any charge for entry, you can view every artists’ results — and purchase any paintings you like — from 5pm to 6:30pm at the Glen Arbor Township Hall. Until about 3:30pm Saturday, Aug. 7, artists will be scattered about Leelanau again, this time without the pressure of a two-hour window, so viewers can expect to catch more detailed works underway, plus an opportunity to buy them back at the township hall when the sales gong rings at 5:45pm. (Hint: Arrive by 5:30pm to pick yours asap; even with a $10 entry free for guests age 13+, this is a very popular event.)

Finally, if you’re interested in participating as an artist, the GAAC has a special option for you — a 4-hour Plein Air Bootcamp, in which Plein air artist extraordinaire David Westerfield (pictured above) will demonstrate his process and mentor oil- and acrylic painters of all levels. Register by Aug. 2 for the Aug. 5 bootcamp and learn more about the weekend’s competitions and art sales at glenarborart.org