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 26 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 26 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.
Sunday, October 22, 1–3pm
Artists Demonstrations
Sedona Arts Center – 15 Art Barn Road
Margaret Larlham, Carol Douglas, Hadley Rampton will paint live around the grounds of the Sedona Arts Center.
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-12pm
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, 5–7pm
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
4:30-7:30pm
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
