Wekiva Paint Out, started in 2006, is a celebration of Plein Air artists that helps benefit charities such as Keep Seminole Beautiful and Wekiva Wilderness Trust. All week long, guests can visit Wekiva Island free of charge and witness world-class artists painting along the boardwalk, in kayaks, canoes, at the bar and at various locations along the Wekiva River. Throughout the week, there will be plenty of opportunities to view the work, purchase their pieces. support our artists and charities, enjoy live music, indulge in great food and celebrate art in our community!
Paint Out in the News
Wekiva Paint Out Commercial
WUCF Artisodes – Wekiva Paint Out
Harc Productions – Wekiva Paint Out
Lake Mary Healthy Living: Plein Air Artists Step Into The Light
Sponsor and Patron Opportunities
We have several corporate sponsorship opportunities available at multiple levels that come with several different benefits based on the level of sponsorship. The benefits range from small ads to full page ads in our program, your logo on our website linked to your website, to your logo on our emails, mailings and billboards and tickets to the private artist welcome dinner, the patron party and gala tickets. In addition there are personal patron opportunities. This option does not include advertising but does include a 100% art credit equal to your donation as well as invitations to a private artist welcome dinner, patron reception and tickets to the gala. If you are interested in learning more about these opportunities please contact us at marysueweinaug@gmail.com.
History of the Wekiva Paint Out
The Wekiva Invitational Plein Air Paint Out was started by philanthropist and nature lover William “Big Bill” Tippit. Big Bill had an idea to produce this art event to increase awareness of one of our area’s greatest natural resources, the Wekiva River. Big Bill approached The Friends of Wekiva River (FOWR) for their support. FOWR had produced a one-day event to increase awareness of the River and Park, The Wekiva Riverfest, in 2006. Big Bill felt becoming part of the Riverfest event would give the Paint Out a strong foundation. They hosted the very first Wekiva Paint Out in March 2007 as part of that year’s Riverfest celebration. He handed the event over to the FOWR the following year in 2008. Bill Tippit is no longer the host but is still a big supporter of the event and can be seen regularly in the wetroom socializing with the artists.
In 2009, FOWR decided to cancel the Paint Out portion of Riverfest event because of the significant costs associated with hosting it. Mr. William C. Weinaug Jr. (Bill) agreed to sponsor and host the Paint Out at the Wekiva Island that year. Bill had recently purchased the old Wekiwa Marina to make a stance against the declining health of the river. He renamed the property what’s known today as Wekiva Island. Like Big Bill Tippit, Bill Weinaug continues to believe this one event is our best chance to increase awareness of the Wekiva River and what we can do to save its health. A few years after the Wekiva Island started hosting the Paint Out, the FOWR had decided to cancel the Riverfest Event. This year, Mr. Weinaug continues to host the Wekiva Paint Out at the Wekiva Island, his seventh. He is committed to making this one of the best most famous paint outs in the Americas.
Today its benefactors are Keep Seminole Beautiful and the Wekiva Wilderness Trust.
Paint Out in the News
Don Philpott has been writing and experiencing the great outdoors for more than 50 years. He has expeditioned, backpacked, climbed, canoed, ridden and skied throughout Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, the Arctic, Australia and New Zealand. He cofounded the first environmental outdoors magazine in the UK in the 1970’s and has written several books on camping, survival and the great outdoors. He is an instructor with UF’s Florida Master Naturalist program, a Certified Interpretive Guide and member of the National Association for Interpretation and a volunteer at Wekiwa Springs State Park.
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