There is a lot of movement in painting this summer, as painters migrate around the Adirondacks for a series of special events—and for opportunities to paint the rich landscapes around them.

Saranac Lake watercolor painter Tim Fortune led a large gathering of aficionados through the “walkabout” at the annual Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors (ANEAW) at View in Old Forge on Saturday. This is the 32^nd year of the show, which has grown to be one of the most respected and best attended in the country. Artists from all across North America make summer pilgrimages to participate and to see the opening.

Fortune engaged the audience with his discussion of the techniques of five paintings selected for review. Although he has painted in other media over his distinguished career, Fortune has dedicated the last several years exclusively to watercolor painting, exploring small details of local landscapes on a large scale. His paintings are on display at Fortune Studio in Saranac Lake.

Fortune will be conducting a five-day painting workshop with award-winning pastel artist Diane Leifheit of Gabriels, September 22-27, 2013 at White Pine Camp (the Adirondack vacation home of President Calvin Coolidge) at Paul Smiths. The popular workshop being repeated this year features daily demos by Leifheit and Fortune, and daily reviews, and of course, the rare opportunity to paint at this stunning location in the Northern Adirondacks.

Meanwhile, astute observers might have spotted Leifheit in—or above—downtown Saranac Lake this past Friday, participating in the Paint the Town event that was part of the 5^th annual Adirondack Plein Air Festival, sponsored by Saranac Lake ArtWorks.

Leifheit and nearly 70 other painters from around the northeast and as far as ___, took to the trails, painting at locations all around Saranac Lake, all of which culminated in the juried art show and sale on Sunday, August 18^th.

The Adirondacks National Watercolor Show is on display at View now through October 27, 2013—and View is hosting the 5^th Annual Adirondack Plein Air Paint Out, Labor Day Weekend, followed by an auction of the paintings on September 1.

Photos: Above, Tim Fortune leads “walkabout” at View; middle, Diane Leifheit paints the view toward Saranac Lake from a Route 3 overpass; and below,  juror Bruce Evans Newman (l), Plein Air Magazine publisher B. Eric Rhoades (c), and painter and event organizer Sandra Hildreth (r) gave out the awards for the 5th Annual Adirondack Plein Air Festival in Saranac Lake.