Plein Air Events - OutdoorPainter.com
Artists gathered at Lands End during a paint-out at the 2019 Plein Air Convention and Expo.

Spring is here, and so are these in-person plein air painting opportunities. Check out these upcoming events from our Artists’ and Collectors’ Ultimate Guide to Painting Events and Organizations.

(Don’t see your event listed here? Contact our marketing team to learn how to advertise with Plein Air Today.)

April 2021 Plein Air Painting Events

California

30th Anniversary Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition
April 9–May 16, 2021
Opening Reception: April 9, 2021
Sponsoring Organization: Oil Painters of America
Venue: Escondido Center for the Arts
Juror of Awards: Jeffrey Watts OPAM
Award Total: $100,000 in cash & merchandise
Contact: Rosemary Murray
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 815.356.5987
Website: www.oilpaintersofamerica.com

Annual Plein Air Competition and Show at The Grand Tradition
April 14, 2021
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.fallbrookartassn.org

Oceanside Museum of Art 2021 Plein Air Festival
April 24–May 1, 2021
Opening Reception: April 24, 2021
Sponsoring Organization: Oceanside Museum of Art
Format: Combination
Contact: Katie Dolgov
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 760.435.3731
Website: www.oma-online.org/pleinair
Artists are invited to come to the burgeoning coastal city of Oceanside to paint Southern California in the open air. The city offers gorgeous coastlines, charming cityscapes, peaceful lagoons, rolling hills with lush flora and fauna, and the historic Mission San Luis Rey among other visual splendor to capture on canvas or media of your choosing. The festival includes a quick draw and opening reception on April 24, paint-out April 24–29, awards gala and art sale on May 1, and a juried exhibition at the museum May 1–August 22.

Florida

Winter Park Paint Out
April 21–24, 2021
Sponsoring Organization & Venue: Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens
Format: Combination
Contact: Emily Coughlan
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 407.647.6294
Website: www.winterparkpaintout.org
The annual Plein Air Festival offers a week of free programming and exciting live arts. The Albin Polasek Museum hosts 25 nationally acclaimed plein air artists who will capture iconic local scenes in fresh paint — LIVE!

Georgia

Olmsted Plein Air Invitational
April 17–25, 2021
Opening Reception: April 20, 2021
Sponsoring Organization: Olmsted Arts, LLC
City: Atlanta, GA
Award Total: $40,000
Contact: Lillian Ansley
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 404.376.7075
Website: www.olmstedpleinair.com
Thirty master artists will capture the landscapes of the state of Georgia and metro Atlanta. Olmsted Plein Air is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is dedicated to nurturing the visual and cultural art education and experience through the art of plein air painting.

Indiana

22nd First Brush of Spring
April 14–17, 2021
Opening Reception: April 14, 2021
Entry Deadline: April 16, 2021
Sponsoring Organization: Indiana Plein Air Painters Association and Hoosier Art Salon New Harmony Gallery
Venue: Hoosier Art Salon New Harmony Gallery
City: New Harmony, IN
Format: Open
Juror of Awards: Bradford Ross
Award Total: Over $15,000
Contact: Linda Volz
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 812.682.3970
Website: www.inpainters.org
The 22nd First Brush of Spring Paint Out is a 10-day art event with pre-paint-out workshops from April 13–14 featuring Wyatt LeGrand. The paint-out kickoff reception is at the Hoosier Art Salon on Wednesday, April 14, with Field to Finish exhibit and awards; April 14-17, paint-out competition with professional, non-professional, and youth divisions totaling over $15,000 in awards; April 17, art sale (pre-registration required); April 19-22, post-paint-out workshops featuring instructors Kathy Anderson, Jeff Legg, Nancie King Mertz, and William Schneider.

New Mexico

“Hot Springs, Cool Town”
April 77-22, 2021
Host: Jemez Fine Art Gallery
Prestented by: Plein Air Painters of New Mexico
City: Jemez Springs
Type: Non-Juried Paint Out and Show
Website: https://www.papnm.org/2021-Jemez-Springs-Non-juried-Paint-Out-and-Show
The PAPNM Jemez Non-Juried Members Paint out and Show is a paint out and show of original two-dimensional en plein air artworks. The public and collectors are invited to attend the opening reception and view the exhibition at Jemez Fine Art Gallery. The opening reception is Saturday, April 24th from 1 – 4 PM.
Website: https://www.papnm.org/2021-Jemez-Springs-Non-juried-Paint-Out-and-Show

Pennsylvania

Celebration of the Arts Plein Air Event
April 25, 2021
Sponsoring Organization: Lewisburg Arts Council and Merrill W. Linn Land & Waterways Conservancy
Venue: Dale-Engle-Walker Property
City: Lewisburg, PA
Format: Open
Contact: Barbara Baker
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 570.412.1686
Website: www.lewisburgartscouncil.com
The seventh annual Plein Air Event, sponsored by the Lewisburg Arts Council and the Merrill W. Linn Land & Waterways Conservancy, is held to preserve, with participants’ artwork, a present moment at Conservancy sites and to build a community of artists and citizens passionate about preserving those sites. The day begins with a free optional workshop presented by a local artist. Participating artists of all ages and skill levels then visit either of two Conservancy sites to paint or draw. Artwork will be displayed at a local Lewisburg gallery in June 2021.

Virginia

6th Annual Plein Air Unleashed 2020
April 28-May 1, 2021
Host: Allure Art Center
City: White Stone
Website: http://www.allureartcenter.com/plein-air-unleashed/
Artists from across Virginia and Southern Maryland are invited to spend the week in the Northern Neck of Virginia along the beautiful Chesapeake Bay painting our beautiful scenery “en plein air”. Patrons are able to experience fine artists working in a variety of mediums, out in natural settings, striving to catch the light in their interpretations of the scenery. At the beginning of the week Allure Art Center publishes an online map for Plein Air Unleashed of the suggested painting locations so that patrons and local community artists can go out and see the exhibiting artists at work. On Friday night of the event Allure Art Center hosts a preview reception that showcases many of the works created by the exhibiting artists during the week and the works are on display for the month of May in the professional gallery. On Saturday of the event exhibiting artists are on site at Allure Art Center to work, conduct demos, workshops and greet patrons. We also have a Quick Draw competition on Saturday open to all artists. One of the exhibiting artists, Maria Reardon, will be offering both soft pastel and oil plein air workshops on Saturday as well. Local community artists are encouraged to come out Saturday to paint on the grounds, join the Quick Draw or just socialize with the exhibiting artists.

Online

Plein Air Live: A Global Virtual Art Conference
April 15-17, 2021, with a Beginner’s Day on April 14
Sponsoring Organization: Plein Air Today / Streamline Publishing
Website: pleinairlive.com
You’ll discover invaluable insights and wisdom from artists who are making a living with their art today. They’re revealing career-level tips and strategies on how to get your art noticed, displayed, and SOLD. And they’re sharing everything they know during our second annual LIVE Plein Air Virtual Event. Join us from the comfort of your home… Without having to worry about viruses… flights… hotel costs… jet lag… travel bans… or “getting stuck in quarantine!”

Plein Air Live - Peter Adams
Join Peter Adams, an American artist whose body of work focuses on landscapes and seascapes created en plein air in oil or pastel. You’ll love his colorful palette and broad brushwork as he shows you how he creates his masterful art.

Visit EricRhoads.com to find out all the amazing opportunities, including:
– Online art conferences such as Plein Air Live
– New video workshops for artists
– Incredible art retreats
– Educational and fun art conventions, and much more.

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2 COMMENTS

  1. Your post here says the Oceanside event is April 24th through May 1st but when I clicked on the link, their website says July 24th through August 1st. I’m assuming it’s in July?

    Thank you

    • Hello, Deann! Yes, it’s possible that the information changed since we received it, or that there was a misprint somewhere along the way. Please do go with what’s listed on their website – thank you for checking, and happy painting!

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