With a landscape and weather as lovely as any in the world, West Maui easily offers the ideal canvas for painting en plein air (French for "in the open air").

So it should come as no surprise that the Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational reached its 10th anniversary with the annual weeklong celebration of selected artists painting on location at such picturesque venues as the Jodo Mission, Lahaina Harbor and Kapalua Bay. The festivities wrap up Sunday with the final sale of paintings at The Village Galleries in Lahaina from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

"This just fits Lahaina perfectly," said artist Ronaldo Macedo, who envisioned the event with Kauai artist Saim Caglayan and Theo Morrison, then of the Lahaina Town Action Committee.

Plein air artists are those romantic figures you find alongside a country road or at the shoreline, painting what lies in front of them. Their dreamy impressions of light and color can make even the most mundane scenes into something wistful and inviting.

Twenty-five professional plein-air artists from Maui, Hawaii and the mainland are invited each year after submitting applications to Islanders, a local group of plein-air artists headed by Macedo. The event always begins the Saturday before Presidents Day.

It’s become a kind of working holiday for the artists.

"I’ll be here every year if I get invited," said Lanai artist Mike Carroll, putting the finishing touches on a painting of the Jodo Mission’s famous Buddha. "I really enjoy the camaraderie, meeting the new artists and seeing old friends."

Popular Maui artist Betty Hay Freeland echoed those remarks as she captured the scene of the nearby beach looking toward Mala Wharf.

"It’s nothing but a week of happiness," she bubbled. "It’s painting, parties, exchanging ideas and getting to meet the public."

In fact, the public adds to the palette. Those watching the painters are not cordoned off, but are encouraged to watch over the artists’ shoulders and engage in conversation.

"That’s why we’re here, it’s part of demystifying the process," said Randall Sexton, last year’s best-in-show winner, who has flown in from California for each of the 10 years. "It’s nice to talk to the people."

Every year, three venues are chosen for "paint outs" where artists are given a specific space and amount of time — no more than a few hours — to finish a painting. It’s art on a deadline.

At the opening event on Valentine’s Day morning, the Plein Air Invitational almost became the Big Wind Challenge as the usually placid Lahaina breezes turned blustery and biting. The blue skies dissolved into stormy gray and the roiling waves looked more like Maine than Maui.

Since the festivities go on rain or shine, artists have to be prepared.

"You get used to it," said George Allan, another Maui plein-air veteran who came equipped with Velcro and bungee cords. "Your canvas will blow over here, your palette will blow over there, your painting is upside down in the middle of the road. You go get it and pick all the bits out. I’ve left so much paint on the roads over the years."

Sexton said the unpredictability is another reason to love the art of plein air rather than climate-controlled studios.

"The magic of the moment wouldn’t be the same without the way the weather is," he said. "It keeps you honest, it keeps you on your toes. It makes you paint fast and not think too much."

With its stately temple, pagoda and temple bell all within view of the great Buddha, the Jodo Mission offered a spiritual wealth of scenes that extended to the adjoining cemetery and beach. On Tuesday, painters gathered at the Montage Kapalua Bay Resort for a sunset paint-out followed by a two-hour "Quick Draw" on Friday at Lahaina Harbor. There were also workshops, lectures and receptions.

The entire week was an all-volunteer effort. Lois Reiswig, president of the West Maui Cultural Council, and plein air event coordinator Una Somerville served as lead volunteers of a team that worked tirelessly simply for the love of plein air.

This included West Maui residents who hosted 19 of the artists for the week. The artists contribute monetarily, too, by paying their travel expenses. None of that has stemmed the momentum.

"It’s got a good feeling," said Macedo as a crowd of about 150 gathered for the initial sale of paintings, still wet in their frames. "There’s such a great rapport among the artists and we’ve built a nice following. We’ve got visitors who plan their trip to Maui around this week."

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On the Net:

» MauiPleinAirPainting.org