The Gloucester Arts Festival—a monthlong celebration of the arts—gets underway this week, as nationally recognized plein air artists from across the country begin arriving Friday for the Plein Air Invitational, transforming the county into a living studio for more than a week of painting, competition and community engagement. Twenty-eight artists, many of whom have earned national awards and recognition in plein air events throughout the U.S., will spend the week capturing Gloucester’s waterfronts, historic streets, rural landscapes and unique coastal character. Unlike traditional studio artists, plein air painters work outdoors, creating original paintings on location while responding to changing light, weather and atmosphere. Residents and visitors will have several opportunities to watch the artists paint in real time during the festival’s opening weekend, said a press release, beginning tomorrow evening at Brews, Brine & Wine at Timberneck Farm. Artists will be painting through...