Painting from Life and Landscape

Photo by Len Villano.

The Midwest’s largest outdoor painting festival, the Door County Plein Air Festival, returns to the county on July 20, with events through July 26. The exhibition and sale will be held from July 26 – Aug. 18.

The Door County Plein Air Festival presented by Peninsula School of Art celebrates the tradition of outdoor painting with some of the finest painters from Door County and across the country. More than 40 artists will put brush to canvas, capturing the summer light over the waters and fields of Door County. Painting from life and the landscape has long been a Door County tradition, and one that has endured evolving styles. The festival’s painters bring a fresh eye to the changing lights and colors, and a variety of styles that draw from the rich traditions of plein air painting.

Listen and learn from daily artist demonstrations. Tour local partner galleries as artists paint on site. Relax with great music and food at our sunset concert and paint out. View presentations by the festival judge, award winning artists, and knowledgeable collectors. View fresh paintings at the Collector’s Preview Gala Auction. Children can try painting plein air during the Kid’s Paint, Saturday, July 26. Be at the heart of festival excitement during the Quick Paint competition. Vote for favorite artists at the Open Door Reception. Take home an original piece of fine art.

Schedule of Events

July 20: 5:30 – 8 pm, welcome dinner (Palette Pass exclusive)

July 21: 11 am – 2 pm, Artists in the Garden

July 22: 11 am – 2 pm, Artists in the Field

July 23: 11 am – 2 pm, Artists by the Bay; 6 pm – sunset, Paint Out in Sister Bay; 7 – 9 pm, Masters & Music, $25

July 24: 10 am – 1 pm, Artist & the Farmer; 12:30 – 2 pm, Lunch & Artist Talk (Palette Pass exclusive); 3 – 4 pm, Lecture with Steve Doherty, editor of Plein Air Magazine, $10

July 25: 5 – 6 pm, Collector’s Preview & Champagne Kick-Off (Palette Pass exclusive); 6:30 – 9 pm, Gala Auction, $70

July 26: 9 am – 2 pm, Quick Paint & Live Auction; 9 – 11 am, Dockside Quick Paint; 9 – 11 am, Kids Paint, $5 per child; 6 – 8 pm, Open Door Celebration.

For complete event information visit DoorCountyPleinAir.com.