5th Annual Hudson Valley Plein Air Festival

Plein air festivals — Above: Mitchell Saler and John Michinko painting in Monroe at the 2019 Hudson Valley Plein Air Festival

The Wallkill River School of Art is hosting the 5th Annual Hudson Valley Plein Air Festival from October 13-18, 2020.

The event attracts artists from all over the United States to a week-long Plein Air Competition. This year the school anticipates more than 30 artists who will be painting at scenic locations throughout the Hudson Valley. Artists are selected by a jury of three well-known and respected plein air painters and are invited to apply until August 15 with an early bird deadline of July 1.

Participating artists are required to produce at least three original works of art, painted “en plein air” (outdoors) during the festival. The week of painting ends with two public events; the first is a “Quick Draw” held October 18 at a location to be announced in which the public is invited to participate. Later that day, the public is invited to attend (Covid-19 restrictions permitting) the opening exhibit of the artists’ work at the Wallkill River School of Art in Montgomery, NY.

The exhibit lasts until December, after which will be a traveling show of the artwork throughout Orange County until April 2021. This year the festival is also open to artists of all skill levels as Non-Competing Participants whose work will be exhibited online on the school’s website.