Between an upcoming First Fridays art walk and Broadway Maricopa’s first full season starting up this fall, the cooler months are already looking to be a busy time for Maricopa’s artists.

And Maricopa’s Cultural Affairs and Arts Advisory Committee is looking to up the ante by introducing a new event where artists can create together.

Starting this fall, the committee will be hosting a series of quarterly plein air arts events, which will bring artists together to sketch, paint, sculpt or complete other art mediums side by side.

Councilmember Amber Liermann, who helped spearhead the event, said the concept is simple: choose a picturesque time and place, invite artists to bring their own supplies and spend a few hours making art in the same location.

“It’s really a gathering of artists in the same location to create art in a collaborative way,” she said. “[It’s a place] to collaborate, socialize and enjoy our arts community.”

The events would also double as workspace and exhibit space — passersby become the audience as they watch pieces come to life around town.

As for the locations, committee members have already dreamed up a wish list of locations to host the events, such as at the historic water tower, the California Zephyr train and the running horse sculpture on the corner of Smith-Enke Road and John Wayne Parkway. Liermann said that for the hot months, they will also consider indoor sessions.

The event is being sponsored by a $500 grant from Maricopa Friends of the Arts and Liermann said the arts community is “very excited.”

“Our arts community is very active in Maricopa, and they’re always seeking new ways to grow the community,” she said.

They’re also hoping the events can build traction and add to the city’s tourism goals.

“Some people travel very long distances for these events,” she said. “One artist said she would not be surprised if her relatives traveled here from out of state to participate in an event like this.”