Susan Beatty of Saxonburg paints during one of the Cranberry Artists Network outings this year. The group hosts an En Plein Air exhibit of artwork done “in open air” in the Back Hall Gallery at the Cranberry Township Municipal Center.

Cranberry Artists Network presents its En Plein Air art exhibit in the Back Hall Gallery at the Cranberry Township Municipal Center, 2525 Rochester Road.

An opening reception will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The network sponsors an outdoor painting group that visits local sites and members create paintings “in open air.”

This genre of painting dates to the time of the Impressionist painters who wanted to capture an image at a particular time of day, according to a media release from the group.

This type of painting, which focuses on the effect of light on color, usually takes place in small blocks of time.

“We usually meet around 9 a.m., and then work 'til we get tired or the light changes too much,” said Kathy Bischak who does public relations for the artists network. “We try to capture the atmosphere of the particular moment.”

The Cranberry plein air group has been painting in the area every Thursday morning at different sites throughout the region since springtime.

Trips have taken the group to the Harmonist Barn in Harmony, Moraine State Park, McConnells Mill State Park, and Succop Nature Park locally and to sites beyond the county lines as well.

Some artists attend once in awhile, but active members of the group include Dianne Bauman, Ann Bealer, Susan Beatty, Kathy Bischak, Dona Boots, Ann Carlino, Mary Alice Dianna, Marge Gardner, Kathi Green, Diane Grguras, Jocelyn Guidry, Mary Jane Hadley, Paul Jay, Joanne Lippold, Peg Lombardi, Marian Sallade, Mary Mason, Carolyn Parker, Jaison Schafer, Helen Todd, Clare Torso, Susan Walker and Patricia Young.

Many of these artists have pieces in the Plein Air show.

There are about 30 pieces of artwork in this exhibit.

Artists from the Cranberry network also participated in the Southern Butler County Garden Tour this year, painting in the gardens during the tours. “There were at least two artists at each garden,” said Bischak.

“Many of those paintings are a part of the show,” she said.

The En Plein Air show continues in the Back Hall Gallery through Nov. 8.

For more information, visit www.cranberryartistsnetwork.com.