Umpqua Plein Air

2012 Plein Air Paintout Information

Juror announced for the 2012 Plein Air Juried Show and Competition Thomas Jefferson Kitts is the juror of the 2012 Plein Air Competition, to be held September 5-7, 2012. You can check out Kitts' website here. You can check out his blog here. We are also planning to host a workshop taught by Kitts in May or June.

Thomas lives in Portland, Oregon. He graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1984, after which he returned home to paint en plein air in the Pacific Northwest and California.

Thomas is an active member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, the California Art Club, the Oil Painters of America, and the American Impressionist Society. He travels extensively and maintains an active and distinguished exhibition history – one which includes the Laguna Art Museum, the Maritime Museum of Curacao, the Academy Museum of Easton, Oil Painters of America National & Regional Exhibitions, Arts for the Parks Top 100, and three New York Art Expos. Thomas has been commissioned by such prestigious entities as the Publix Corporation, the Mariott Corporation, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, and the Kaiser-Permanente Collection. His work is collected throughout North America. For more information on Thomas Kitts, read his bio.

2011 Plein Air Juror receives 1st Prize at the Annual Plein Air Salon Competition Mitch Baird, the juror of last year's Plein Air Paintout Show and Competition and teacher of numerous plein air workshops at UVAA, was recently honored with the 1st prize at the November/December 1st Annual PleinAir Salon Competition. Read about it here.

Congratulations, Mitch!

What is Plein Air painting?  Painting outside on location. 

This is an opportunity for artists to experience the camaraderie of other artists and capture scenes of the outdoors in a timed competition. There will be three lovely, nearby locations to choose from; a small town urban area, vista filled ranch land and a picturesque local winery and vineyard. Artists have a limited time period in which to create original works of art and return their completed and framed works to UVAA. Then they can relax and get to know the other participants at a casual catered dinner while listening to local live music on the welcoming park grounds surrounding the Art Center.

The fun will continue the following day with several non-competitive paint outs led by well-seasoned Plein Air painters. Paint out leaders, one Pastel, one Watercolor and one Oil, may choose to do a demo or a short lecture on aspects of Plein Air painting, or you may choose to relax on your own enjoying some wine tasting at one of our many wonderful area vineyards or hiking along the scenic North Umpqua River.     

The event culminates with an opening public reception, on Friday evening at UVAA.  All entries will be on display as well as photography from the event. 

Registration forms for the 2012 Plein Air Paintout will be on our website in the next month or so; please check back for details!