Canadian plein air artist Simonne Munzi Smith reported that for the third time, artists have gathered at Prince Edward Island for “Island Plein Air” (IPA). As one of the organizers, she shared that the intention for the event is simple: to encourage people to come and paint.
Rather than having organized classes, “we wanted to keep everyone free to paint and not have any other commitments,” Simonne said. “We did, however, encourage peer-to-peer mentorship, and to watch other painters to learn.”
Artists stayed overnight at the host conference center, which had sleeping accommodations. “This made for a great venue to form friendships, as people were in each other’s company for longer periods of time,” Simonne said. Artists brought their own food and shared a convenient industrial kitchen for meals, and in the evenings, some brought out their musical instruments to play and sing. “That turned out really well and everyone enjoyed the entertainment while they continued finishing up their work.”
As an organizer for Island Plein Air, Simonne added that it was mind-blowing to have so many creatives in one place. “The joyful, happy, calm retreat of excited artists was so worth the effort. And the creative results on canvas or paper – amazing!”
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Don’t miss your opportunity to create lifetime memories at PACE! The next Plein Air Convention & Expo is May 14-18, 2026 in The Ozarks. All training sessions are indoors on giant, high-def screens, with plein air paint-outs in the afternoons. Beginners and pros feel right at home, so register now to join us!
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