Get ready for an all-new Plein Air Festival, revamped and reimagined to meet our current times!
This invitational is a premiere gathering of 24 of the top plein air artists in the country - the largest of its kind in South Florida.
Participate virtually or in-person in this non-stop, weeklong festival!
Kick off the week with an in-person Paint Out Competition at the beautiful Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens!
Then get swept away in a week of real-time painting en plein air (outdoors) in picturesque locations across the country,
as these renowned artists compete for over $20,000 in cash and prizes.
Demos and workshops will be held both virtually and in-person, so from coast to coast, anyone can participate!
Don't miss this chance to learn from the most highly regarded plein air artists in the country.
Grow your collection with this stunning, one-of-a-kind artwork!
Stop by our brick-and-mortar exhibition and special small works sale, or shop online with our virtual catalog and online store!
Competition pieces will be available for sale Friday, March 19, after our live-streamed awards ceremony.
This invitational is a premiere gathering of 24 of the top plein air artists in the country - the largest of its kind in South Florida.
Participate virtually or in-person in this non-stop, weeklong festival!
Kick off the week with an in-person Paint Out Competition at the beautiful Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens!
Then get swept away in a week of real-time painting en plein air (outdoors) in picturesque locations across the country,
as these renowned artists compete for over $20,000 in cash and prizes.
Demos and workshops will be held both virtually and in-person, so from coast to coast, anyone can participate!
Don't miss this chance to learn from the most highly regarded plein air artists in the country.
Grow your collection with this stunning, one-of-a-kind artwork!
Stop by our brick-and-mortar exhibition and special small works sale, or shop online with our virtual catalog and online store!
Competition pieces will be available for sale Friday, March 19, after our live-streamed awards ceremony.
Participating Artists
We are thrilled to announce our invited artists - get ready for fresh work from 24 of the top plein air artists in the country!
Plein Air Festival Judge
We are thrilled to announce that Jean Stern, Director Emeritus and founding director of The Irvine Museum, as well as an internationally-recognized art historian, author, curator, lecturer, teacher, will be judging our 8th Annual Plein Air Festival!
A recognized authority on California Impressionism, art historian Jean Stern has extensive experience in the field as an author, curator, lecturer, and teacher. He was the founding director of The Irvine Museum from its inception in April, 1992. In the subsequent twenty-five years, he established a national presence for The Irvine Museum in the fields of California Art and History through a noteworthy international series of books, exhibitions, lectures, articles, and video documentaries. In his career, he has presented over 250 lectures and judged and juried over 100 international, national, and local art competitions.
Mr. Stern has authored or contributed to over 25 books and museum exhibition catalogues. He has presented tours and lectures on California Art in numerous museum throughout the county as well as in Paris, Krakow, and Madrid. He was a consultant to and appears in three PBS nationally aired documentary videos.
In 2017, Mr. Stern received the prestigious CHEVALIER OF THE ORDER OF ARTS AND LETTERS by the French Ministry of Culture. He has also been presented with three LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS: by the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association in 2013; by the Plein Air Painters of America in 2014; and by PLEIN AIR MAGAZINE, at the Third Annual Plein Air Convention in Monterey, CA, in 2014.
Mr. Stern has authored or contributed to over 25 books and museum exhibition catalogues. He has presented tours and lectures on California Art in numerous museum throughout the county as well as in Paris, Krakow, and Madrid. He was a consultant to and appears in three PBS nationally aired documentary videos.
In 2017, Mr. Stern received the prestigious CHEVALIER OF THE ORDER OF ARTS AND LETTERS by the French Ministry of Culture. He has also been presented with three LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS: by the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association in 2013; by the Plein Air Painters of America in 2014; and by PLEIN AIR MAGAZINE, at the Third Annual Plein Air Convention in Monterey, CA, in 2014.
2021 Event Schedule
Sunday, March 14
Paint Out Competition:
Join us at the beautiful Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens in West Palm Beach to participate in or view this thrilling plein air competition! All artists are welcome to participate under one of two self-designated categories, Professional or Amateur Artist. Cash awards and prizes will be available to winners in both categories. Over $2,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded! 9-10 am: Check in and authentication of panels will begin on site 10 am-12 pm: PAINT! Listen for the start and stop horn 12-12:30 pm: Frame and set up work 12:30-1 pm: Judging by an independent judge 1 pm: Awards announced and prizes distributed 1-2 pm: Art is offered for sale to the public REGISTER > All artists must register by Thursday, March 11, 2021 in order to participate. Registration is $40 per artist. Those wanting to attend the Paint Out as spectators or art collectors (not competitors) do not need to register in advance. Those attendees will simply pay the Gardens' entrance fee upon arrival - $12 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for children or students. Facial coverings and social distancing required. Click here for Paint Out Details & Rules. |
Monday - Thursday, March 15-18
Demos:
Learn the tips and tricks of plein air from our nationally-recognized artists in these free demos! Monday and Wednesday demos will be held in-person, and Tuesday and Thursday demos will be held virtually. For in-person demos, attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs and dress for the weather, as we will be outdoors. |
Monday, March 15: Marc Anderson Marina Demo
Enjoy some sunshine and a stunning view of the Intracoastal as you join plein air expert Marc Anderson in the beautiful Black Pearl Marina to learn how to paint a truly remarkable marine scene! Monday, March 15, 9-11 am Black Pearl Marina, 19137 SE Federal Hwy, Tequesta, FL 33469 Free and open to the public! Facial coverings and social distancing required. |
Tuesday, March 16: Alison Leigh Menke Virtual Oil Demo
Join renowned plein air artist Alison Leigh Menke in her studio for this virtual demo, and learn the secrets of creating beautiful and vibrant plein air artwork! Tuesday, March 16, 9-11 am Demo will be held via Zoom - check back for our Zoom link! Free and open to the public! |
Wednesday, March 17: Eli Cedrone Figure Demo
Unwind in picturesque DuBois Park and learn acclaimed artist Eli Cedrone's tips and tricks on painting a stunning figure en plein air! Wednesday, March 17, 9-11 am DuBois Park, 19075 Dubois Rd, Jupiter, FL 33477 Free and open to the public! Facial coverings and social distancing required. |
Real-Time Painting Competition:
Painting en plein air from picturesque locales across the country, our incredible artists are in action - drop in online to see their progress! Artists create their competition pieces in real-time to compete for cash and prizes, awarded at our livestreamed awards ceremony on Friday, March 19. Follow us on instagram @lighthousearts for real-time updates! |
Art for Purchase Online and In-Person:
Purchase these one-of-a-kind pieces by the top plein air artists in the country for your collection. Stop by our brick-and-mortar exhibition, or shop online with our virtual catalog and online store! Monday-Thursday: 9 am - 6 pm Free entrance and open to the public! Facial coverings and social distancing required in the Gallery. |
Friday, March 19
Livestreamed Awards Ceremony:
Catch the climax of our weeklong competition, as over $20,000 in cash and prizes is awarded to our winners! All competition work will be available for sale online immediately after our awards ceremony. Friday, March 19, 4:30 PM EST, Virtual (via the Zoom platform) Check back for more details and the Zoom link! |
Art for Purchase Online and In-Person:
Purchase these one-of-a-kind pieces by the top plein air artists across the country for your collection. Stop by our brick-and-mortar exhibition, or shop online with our virtual catalog and online store! Competition pieces will be available for sale online immediately after our awards ceremony. Friday: 9 am - 8 pm Free entrance and open to the public! Facial coverings and social distancing required in the Gallery. |
Saturday, March 20
Art for Purchase In-Person and Online:
Purchase these one-of-a-kind pieces by the top plein air artists across the country for your collection. Stop by our brick-and-mortar exhibition, or shop online with our virtual catalog and online store! Competition pieces will be available for sale! Saturday: 10 am - 4 pm Free entrance and open to the public! Facial coverings and social distancing required in the Gallery. |
Plein Air Workshops
Several of our exceptional artists participating in the Plein Air Festival will also be offering workshops!
Don't miss the opportunity to learn from these masters - stay tuned for more details and to register online.
Don't miss the opportunity to learn from these masters - stay tuned for more details and to register online.
Painting Without Borders with Patrick Saunders
Explore the essential techniques for painting from direct observation with award-winning painter Patrick Saunders. Learn to paint any subject, from the most simple to complex with one approach. Patrick will demonstrate the process of simplifying the subject and moving to finish as rapidly as possible in order to add more energy and excitement to your painting. Students will learn about composition, value, texture, color temperature, and accuracy in paint application. We will work outdoors with opportunities to explore the landscape, the figure, and the still life all.
Each day will begin with a short lecture and full demonstration, followed by one-on-one instruction with students. The class is highly tailored to each individual student. Instructor: Patrick Saunders DuBois Park; Tuesday-Thursday, March 9-11, 9 am-4 pm $450 for members, $500 for nonmembers; Please call the ArtCenter at 561-746-3101 for the status of this class. Faculty Bio and Supply List > |
Color & Markmaking with Tara Will
Learn to use color and markmaking to express your voice! During this workshop, students will focus on understanding value, composition, color, and markmaking. Please bring several of your own images (please do not use any image that isn’t your own). We will look at these images and discuss what makes a great painting. To help each other understand what is working and not working in a painting, we will also constructively critique work (it’s not scary!). Please bring Sennelier La Carte paper - you may also bring whatever paper you typically work on, but there are techniques specific to this paper that will be used.
Instructor: Tara Will Online; Tuesday-Thursday, March 9-11, 9 am-1 pm $230 for members, $265 for nonmembers; REGISTER > Faculty Bio and Supply List > |
Simplifying the Figure in the Landscape with Eli Cedrone
The basic principle of figure painting relies on well-designed shapes of light and dark, which allow for the description of beautiful form. We will separate two difficulties by first addressing drawing and design, and secondly developing color to its completion. This approach helps to unify your painting by relating the major masses in terms of color and value.
By creating a simple value plan, you'll learn how to break down the fundamental form of the figure into large shapes or masses. There will be instruction on how to mix clean color in the correct value and temperature in order to create the illusion of light on the figure. Eli will demonstrate and explain her methods throughout the day and work one-on-one with each student. The focus will be on achieving accurate drawing and correct values - two of the most crucial aspects of representational painting. Other topics to include: gesture, form, varying edges. Instructor: Eli Cedrone In-Person, Location TBD; Tuesday-Wednesday, March 23-24, 10 am-4 pm $300 for members, $350 for nonmembers; REGISTER > Faculty Bio and Supply List > |
Confident in Watercolor with Richie Vios
Over the course of this workshop, students will learn how to visualize the finished painting before they have even started. Richie will teach students how to work through proper planning, while they learn various contemporary skills and techniques in watercolor. Visualization manifests a confident artist as a result. Students will begin with a simple watercolor wash and work towards more complex calligraphy brush works in ”French Detail.” This is the ‘Yin and Yang’ of a painting. Learn the balancing act of light to dark values, soft & hard edges, and warm & cool tones. Please bring a plein air umbrella!
Instructor: Richie Vios Under Juno Beach Pier; Saturday-Sunday, March 27-28, 10 am-4 pm $300 for members, $350 for nonmembers; REGISTER > Faculty Bio and Supply List > |