From Chinatown streets to the iconic Johnson Street bridge, local artists are invited to take a seat in the great outdoors on Saturday and paint what they see.

Opus art supplies host its first Outdoor Painting Challenge April 21.

Opus stores from Victoria to Kelowna and around the Lower Mainland will participate that day, encouraging local artists to get outside and paint.

It is open to all ages and to both professional and amateur artists,  however, everyone who participates will compete on the same level for prizes.

Each Opus store will award prizes to three works, chosen on site by an impartial jury, including well-known artist Robert Amos at the Victoria location.

The top prize in each location is a $500 Opus gift card, with second and third prizes being $250 and $100 gift cards, respectively.

April weather can be unpredictable, but the event will go rain or shine, said Marsha Arbour, manager of the Victoria Opus store.

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Canvases will be provided, but everyone is expected to supply any other materials they require, from paints to brushes and easels.

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Participants will set up around Victoria, but there will be restrictions in how far afield they can go.

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Artists are asked to sign in by 10 a.m. and return to the store with their finished work no later than 3 p.m. Winners will be announced at 5 p.m.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 pretty excited about the outdoor painting challenge,B次元官网网址� said Arbour. B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 have to buy anything, itB次元官网网址檚 just a community relationship event really. I like to sell things B次元官网网址� thatB次元官网网址檚 really fun too B次元官网网址� but this is different, the more the merrier B次元官网网址� bring a friend.B次元官网网址�

Anyone who is interested in participating in the free event is asked to call or stop by the store at 512 Herald St. to register.

Visit the Opus website at opusartsupplies.com/OPChallenge for more information about the contest.