Take advantage of these art and plein air painting events and opportunities from our 2022 Ultimate Guide to Painting Events and Organizations.
(We want to include your plein air painting events! Don’t see your group listed here? Contact our marketing team to learn how to advertise your plein air painting events and more with Plein Air Today.)
August 2022 Art / Plein Air Painting Events
California
Just Plein Fun
August 1–5
Opening Reception: August 5
Sponsoring Organization and Venue: Huse Skelly Gallery
City: Balboa Island, Newport Beach, CA
Format: Invitational
Award Total: $5,000
Contact: Lisa Skelly
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 310.418.7989
Website: www.huseskellygallery.com
The 17th Annual Just Plein Fun Invites 12 Award-Winning Plein Air Artists from around the country to paint on beautiful Historic Balboa Island in Newport Beach, CA. Artists compete for awards and prizes and show their paintings each day at the Huse Skelly Gallery. “The Brush Off ” is from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, August 5 along the Quaint Historic Marine Avenue with live music. Visitors pick up their “Passports” at the gallery and treasure-hunt for the artists painting the Island.
Frank Bette Plein Air Paintout
August 1–6
Opening Reception: August 12
Entry Deadline: April 4
Sponsoring Organization and Venue: Frank Bette Center for the Arts
City: Alameda, CA
Format: Juried
Contact: Margaret Fago
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 510.332.6922
Website: www.frankbettecenter.org
The Frank Bette Plein Air Paintout hosts 40 juried artists for a week of painting tree-lined streets, stately Victorian homes and shops, picturesque marinas, and historic naval ships, as well as beaches, lagoons, parks, and San Francisco and Oakland skylines in the island city of Alameda, CA. The week includes a welcome reception, a luncheon, and a quick draw, off-island day, and concluding with an outdoor exhibit and sale of all the paintings on Saturday. A selection of the unsold paintings from the sale are exhibited and for sale in the Frank Bette Center for the Arts Gallery through September.
Colorado
Estes Valley Plein Air
August 13–28
Opening Reception: August 27
Sponsoring Organization: Art Center of Estes Park
Format: Juried
Award Total: Approx. $10,000 and gift certificates
Contact: Lars Sage
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 970.586.5882
Website: www.artcenterofestes.com
Estes Valley Plein Air welcomes 36 artists to the stunning beauty of Estes Park for our fourth annual show. The Art Center of Estes Park, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, will be celebrating its 35th year. Activities include a quick paint/auction and nocturne painting, as well as poster/wine label and miniature contests. Enjoy exquisitely beautiful painting opportunities including a fun artist group paint-out. Works will hang in the Art Center of Estes Park throughout the month of September. The show benefits the Art Center of Estes Park.
Georgia
Olmsted 200 Celebration
Through December 31
Sponsoring Organization: Olmsted Arts, Inc. (Olmsted Plein Air Invitational)
Venue/location: Olmsted Landscapes Nationwide
Format: Plein Air/Studio Virtual Gallery Two paintings to competition/virtual judging
Contact name: Phil Cuthbertson / Lillian Ansley
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Phone: 404-944-3475
Website: olmstedpleinair.com
Frederick Law Olmsted (FLO), the “Father” of modern American landscape architecture and designer of the grounds of Biltmore Estate, the U.S. Capitol Grounds, Central Park, the Buffalo Parks System, the Louisville Parks System, Riverside in Chicago, Druid Hills in Atlanta and many more iconic landscapes. FLO painted his landscapes with trees, shrubs, rolling hills, streams and ponds. His design vision provided all people with simple pleasures of nature. The Olmsted 200 Celebration brings 52 Olmsted Plein Air Invitational Alumni to document Olmsted landscapes across the country.
Indiana
The Kekionga Plein Air Event
August 24–27
Opening Reception: August 24
Entry Deadline: August 26
Sponsoring Organization and Venue: Fort Wayne Artists Guild
Format: Open
Award Total: $10,000
Contact: Sandra McGill
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 260.437.2187
Website: www.fortwayneartistsguild.org
Enjoy four days of painting in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and surrounding Allen County. Activities include artists’ demos, a nocturnal paint-out with a pop-up gallery, an artist exhibition and opening (pre-registration required), Quick Draw, and the Kekionga Plein Air Competition during the Taste of the Arts Festival. Cash prizes and purchase awards totalling over $10,000. Open to artists of all levels.
Maryland
9th Annual Summer Plein Air Show
August 20 – September 24
Sponsoring Organization and Venue: Crystal Moll Gallery
Website: www.crystalmoll.com
We will showcase works by some of the most talented plein air artists working today. Plein Air is a French term meaning “in the open air.” We are fortunate to have many nationally recognized plein air artists working and living in our region. In addition to providing us with selected works, we will ask artists to paint throughout Baltimore on August 20th. These new paintings will be on display and for sale wet off their easels during the reception.
Massachusetts
Plein Air in the Berkshires
Dates: Through September 30
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.berkshireartists.org/plein-air
Michigan
Paint Grand Traverse
August 14–21
Opening Reception: August 20
Entry Deadline: January 31
Sponsoring Organization and Venue: Crooked Tree Arts Center
Format: Combination
Award Total: $15,000
Contact: Megan Kelto
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 231.937.2377
Website: www.paintgrandtraverse.com
Spend a week creating, collecting, and celebrating in one of the most beautiful places in the country! Situated on the shores of Lake Michigan and surrounded by breathtaking dunes, lush wineries, rolling farms, and charming villages, Paint Grand Traverse draws a national field of artists. The week includes workshops, live demos, exhibitions, kids’ activities, and culminates with a fantastic Collectors Gala event. Crooked Tree Arts Center invites you to be a part of the 5th annual Paint Grand Traverse!
Paint Dexter Plein Air Festival
August 15–20
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.paintdexter.org
New Jersey
By the Light of Day Plein Air Show
July 12 – August 27
Sponsoring Organization: West Windsor Arts
Venue: West Windsor Arts Center
City: Princeton Junction
Website: westwindsorarts.org
North Carolina
2022 Blowing Rock Plein Air Festival
August 16–20
Opening Reception: August 20
Sponsoring Organization and Venue: Blowing Rock Art & History Museum
Format: Open
Contact: Jennifer Garonzik
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.blowingrockpleinair.org
Join us for the fifth annual Blowing Rock Plein Air Festival and take in the cool mountain air and warm Southern hospitality of this charming mountain village. Long-range mountain views, peaceful lakes, winding trails, the Moses Cone Estate, and a thriving tourism-friendly town await your exploration. Past artists say three things make this one of their favorite events each year: ample buyers, spectacular scenery, and friendly residents. Last year’s event generated over $37,000 in art sales. Proceeds from the event benefit community art outreach. Registration is open but limited to the first 120 artists.
Oregon
Biennial Open International Juried Exhibition “Spirit of Pastel”
August 2–September 30
Opening Reception: August 5
Sponsoring Organization: Pastel Artists of Oregon
Venue: Chehalem Cultural Center
City: Newberg, OR
Format: Juried
Juror of Awards: Amanda Houston
Award Total: Over $4,000 in cash and prizes
Contact: Mary Weil
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.pastelartistsoforegon.com
Join us in beautiful Yamhill County, Oregon, home to 764 world-class vineyards. Juried artists traveling will enjoy the beautiful rolling hills, small-town hospitality, a vibrant art community, fine wines, and farm-to-table cuisine.
South Dakota
De Smet South Dakota Harvey Dunn Plein Air
August 11–14
Opening Reception: August 12
Sponsoring Organization: Harvey Dunn Society
Venue: Ingalls Homestead; De Smet Event Center
Format: Open
Award Total: $500
Contact: Steve Bell
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 320.894.7542
Website: www.facebook.com/harveydunnsociety
Paint on the prairies of South Dakota where native son Harvey Dunn painted and Laura Ingalls Wilder homesteaded, or join the fun virtually. DeSmet is the “Little Town on the Prairie,” well-known for its historic legacy. The longest-running plein air event in South Dakota. Everything is free, including registration, demonstrations by well-known artists, children’s workshop, and “wet sale.” Beginners and pros welcome. Many residents turn out to buy the artwork Sunday and online. Meet artists attending from many states, and, as they report, “This is one of the most fun, well-organized, and friendliest paint-outs around. You will love it!”
Vermont
Vermont Plein Air Festival
August 12–14
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.madrivervalleyarts.org
Virginia
3rd Floyd Plein Air Biennial
August 15–20
Sponsoring Organization and Venue: The Floyd Center for the Arts
Format: Juried
Juror of Awards: Kyle Buckland
Award Total: $2,500
Contact: Joli Ayn Wood
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 540.449.9078
Website: www.floydartcenter.org
Paint Southwestern Virginia’s most picturesque attractions on the Blue Ridge Plateau during the 3rd Floyd Plein Air Biennial, August 15–20, 2022! Artists will enjoy painting the Blue Ridge Parkway, the famed Buffalo Mountain, unique sites along the beautiful Little River, local farms and vistas, as well as the Town of Floyd. Events include artist demos, an Artist/Patron Night including Wet Paint Sale, Quick Draw Contest at the Historic Floyd Country Store & Friday Night Jamboree, art sale, and Gala.
Wisconsin
Paint the Point
August 10–13
Opening Reception: August 13
Sponsoring Organization: Arts Mineral Point, Inc.
Venue: Historic Masonic Lodge #1
City: Mineral Point, WI
Format: Open
Juror of Awards: Three-person jury of arts professionals
Award Total: $6,000
Contact: Ried Knapp
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 608.285.2958
Website: www.artsmp.org/paint-the-point
The 9th Annual Paint the Point will feature 45 artists competing in the Main, Nocturne, Quick Paint (and new this year), the 5” x 7” postcard event. Artists may submit Main Event and Postcard paintings created from anywhere in Mineral Point or Dodgeville townships. Mineral Point is a frontier mining town founded in 1826, and earned the moniker “Where Wisconsin Began.” It is nestled in the heart of the Driftless Region — an area noted for beautiful vistas, unscathed by the last glacial period. Historic Limestone vernacular architecture and surrounding idyllic countryside offer artists tremendous creative options.
Additional Can’t-Miss Painting Events
Online:
2nd Annual Pastel Live
August 18–20
Sponsoring Organization: PleinAir Magazine
Phone: 561.655.8778 or 800.610.5771
Website: www.pastellive.com
Pastel Live is a three-day online event featuring the world’s top artists teaching in pastel! Watch live demos on portraits, figures, still life, landscape, florals, and more! See top pastel artists paint and share their techniques. Hear thoughts about pastel art in artist roundtables. All from the safety of your home. This is a 100% online event.
Coming Up in September:
Publisher’s Invitational: Paint New Zealand
Dates: September 15-25
Sponsoring Organization: Streamline Publishing
Format: Painting retreat
Website: paintingnewzealand.com
Paint your way through the majesty of New Zealand with Eric Rhoads for a trip you’ll never forget.
Visit EricRhoads.com to find out all the amazing opportunities for artists through Streamline Publishing, including:
– Online art conferences such as Plein Air Live
– New video workshops for artists
– Incredible art retreats and painting events
– Educational and fun art conventions, and much more.
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