SAVE THE DATE!
October 20–28, 2023

Event
Details

19th Annual 
Sedona Plein Air Festival

Sedona Arts Center invites you along to be inspired and experience master artists painting in the Shangri-La of the Southwest! Sedona is a sublime and stunningly beautiful environment steeped in art history. Sedona Arts Center dates back 65 years to the founding of Sedona’s identity as an ‘art colony.’ Our community’s iconic and wonderfully creative event—Sedona Plein Air Festival—is a week-long celebration of extraordinary landscapes, world-renowned artists, unique workshops, and wonderful free events from October 20 through 29, 2023!

This year’s Festival judge is: Tim Newton.

Tim Newton is the publisher of Western Art & Architecture magazine. Newton also is chairman emeritus of the famed Salmagundi Club. 

2023 Festival Schedule

Plein Air—the act of painting outdoors. 

For 19 years, artists from around the country have visited the red rocks of Sedona to capture their magnificence in oils, acrylics, watercolor and pastel. Between October 20-28, you’ll see 27 of the finest painters—each with their own style and perspective—peppered throughout Sedona with their easels, paints and brushes to capture the essence of this magical and beautiful area.

As artists create paintings over the course of the week, they will be framed and displayed for sale in Sedona Arts Center’s Art Barn.  We welcome you to visit the Art Barn during business hours from October 20-28, to see the new (and still wet!) paintings being created each day.  Below is a list of events that are all open and free to the public.  Sedona Arts Center also offers free parking in the lot behind the Art Barn.


Friday, October 20, 4–6pm
Artists Meet & Greet Reception

Join us as we kick off the weeklong festival and meet this year’s Plein Air Artists.  The Artists’ studio paintings will be on display in the SEG in the Art Barn.  All work is for sale!  

Saturday, October 21, 10am–12pm
Main Street Paint Out

Stroll up and down Uptown Sedona on 89A to see all 27 artists painting their surroundings and the beautiful views in real time.  Artists can be identified wearing their festival t-shirts and they will be painting from Sedona Arts Center all the way to the Pink Jeep Café. Join us at 12:30 in the parking lot of Sedona Arts Center for the awards and sale, judged by Alan Petersen, Curator of Fine Arts for the Museum of Northern Arizona.

Monday, October 23, 10am–12pm
Artists Demonstrations

Sedona Arts Center – 15 Art Barn Road

Ellie Wilson, Kathleen Gray Farthing and Gretchen Lopez will paint live around the grounds of the Sedona Arts Center.

Tuesday, October 24, 10am–12pm
Creekside Paint Out at L’Auberge de Sedona

Artists will have the opportunity to paint along the creek on the grounds of the beautiful L’Auberge de Sedona.  Please park at Sedona Arts Center and take a shuttle to the hotel because parking is limited.  Shuttles will run from 8:30am to 1:30pmfrom the Arts Center.  This show will be judged by Linda Goldenstein, owner of Goldenstein Gallery, curator and consultant for L’Auberge. Awards and sale begin at 12:30pm.

Tuesday, October 24, 1-3pm
Artists Demonstrations

Sedona Arts Center – 15 Art Barn Road

Julia Munger Seelos, Laura Martinez-Bianco, Barbara Tapp will paint live around the grounds of the Sedona Arts Center.

Wednesday, October 25, 4–7pm
Sedona Airport Paint Out and Reception

235 Air Terminal Dr, Sedona, AZ 86336

As the sun sets, artists will be painting from 4-6pm stretching from the Sedona Airport Scenic Lookout all the way to select areas around the airport.  Join us for a reception from 5-7pm in the terminal.  At 6:30pm the awards and sale will begin in the terminal area, judged by Alan Petersen, Curator of Fine Arts for the Museum of Northern Arizona.

Thursday, October 26, 10am-2:30pm
Artists Demonstrations at Sedona Heritage Museum

735 Jordan Rd, Sedona

Jacqueline Chanda, Casey Cheuvront, Gunther Haidenthaller will be painting on site at Sedona Heritage Museum grounds.

Thursday, October 26
History of Plein Air Lecture with Carl Judson

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. 
Sedona Arts Center, 15 Art Barn Road

Taking place at the Arts Center, Carl Judson of Judson Art Outfitters and Guerrilla Painter LLC, will present the history of plein air painting.

Friday, October 27, 2023, 4:30–7pm
Awards Night Celebration and Reception

Sedona Arts Center
Special Exhibition Gallery & Theatre,
15 Art Barn Road

This is the big night!  Join us as we celebrate an amazing week of the 19th annual Plein Air Festival.  Best of Show and final awards will be presented by our special judge, Tim Newton. Tim is the publisher of Western Art & Architecture magazine and is also Chairman Emeritus of the famed Salmagundi Club.

Patron’s Circle members can arrive at 4pm for a 30-minute preview and chance to purchase before the reception opens to the public.  VIP parking included. To become a Patrons Circle Member click here: https://sedonaartscenter.org/donate/

Saturday, October 28, 2023
Plein Air Demonstration: Be Bold, Be Fearless!
with Michele Usibelli

Join Michele Usibelli to watch her demonstrate the day before her 3-day workshop begins. Michele will demonstrate her process for creating work in the studio from plein air work and photo reference. This demonstration will be a wonderful overview of the painting process, a learning experience for collectors and painters alike.

This will be a stand alone demonstration as well as the first day of her
“Be Bold, Be Fearless!” Workshop. 

$50 – Registration Required – Click Here

Saturday, October 28, 2023
Final Sale Day, Artists’ Games & Community Paint Out

10:00am-2:00pm

10am-12pm: Join us for our 2nd annual Artists’ Games!  Artists are put together into teams and provided one canvas to collaborate on. Each artist will be given 15 minutes to paint, but there’s a twist!  Every time a new artist starts on the canvas, we throw them a curveball. This fun event goes as fast as the paintings sell at the end of the event!

Community Paint Out

Registration begins at 9:30am

Sedona Arts Center is 65 this year and to celebrate we are having a Community Paint Out!

Our goal is to get 65 community painters (or more!) to participate.  All ages and abilities welcome.  As part of the final day of the Sedona Plein Air Festival, community members are welcome to paint all around Sedona Arts Center Campus and lower lot during while the featured artists from the festival compete in the Artists’ Games. Participants of the Community Paint Out can opt to sell their paintings at the event and to be considered for a prize. One award with a prize of $150 will be given for Best Community Painter, 2nd and 3rd place will receive gift certificates to Sedona Arts Center gallery shop.

REGISTER FOR FREE – CLICK HERE

Thank you to our sponsors...

Sedona’s Annual Celebration of Plein Air Painting is Generously Made Possible by:

Dr Bruce and Ann Peek

2022 Plein Air Workshops at Sedona Arts Center

Sedona Arts Center is one of Northern Arizona’s most well-established cultural organizations and serves as the creative heart of Sedona. Founded in 1958, the nonprofit organization is based at the Art Barn in Uptown and offers year-round classes, exhibitions, festivals, and cultural events that enhance the creative life of the Verde Valley. 

Sedona residents and newcomers alike look to Sedona Arts Center for their introduction to, and ongoing involvement in the arts.

The School of the Arts programming is designed to reach out to all aspiring artists and students – all ages and levels of learning. Ongoing instruction is available in a variety of mediums while workshops offer specialized content in an intensive format from nationally-known faculty.

Sedona Arts Center offers a variety of workshops

Scholarship funds are available

for plein air festival workshops
Location

15 Art Barn Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336

Contact Us

Phone : (928) 282-3809

Email : sac@sedonaartscenter.org

Our Hours

MON–SAT 10am – 5pm
SUN 12 – 5pm