Plein air art retreat set at inn

The first in a series of Plein Air Art Retreats will be held Aug. 8-11 at Mitchell Ponds Inne in Knox, Clarion County. The instructor is Andor Paposi-Jobb. The retreat is designed for aspiring and experienced artists working in media of their choice. Attendance will be limited to eight participants.

Mr. Jobb is retired from Clarion University, where he was associate professor of art from 1963 to 1991, and also founder of the Hun Judo Dojo Club. Born in 1934 in Papos, Hungary, he began his studies at Budapest Art Academy but left for the U.S. in 1956 in the wake of the Hungarian Revolution.

He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Kent State University, Ohio, and a master of fine arts at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He lives in Emlenton.

The inn offers air-conditioned, non-smoking accommodations, most with private baths. Amenities include a swimming pool and canoeing on the pond. It is an hour and 40-minute drive north of Pittsburgh.

For plein air painters, “the ambient light is exquisite, possibly because of all the water,” said Jae Brown, Mr. Jobb’s wife. “You get that lemony light.”

Lodging, which includes nine meals and single occupancy for three nights, ranges from $497 to $710 depending upon choice of room. Coffee is ready in early morning and alcohol is BYOB, said Ms. Brown. “One night, dinner may be served by the pool. Another, on the veranda.”

Retreat registration is $300 which includes 12 hours of instruction by Mr. Jobb.

For questions about the retreat, call Andor Jobb at 412-894-8749. For questions about accommodations or to make reservations, call Mitchell Ponds owner Mary Ann Mouli at 1-814-797-1690.