August 18 - 22, 2025
Umpqua Plein Air
August 18-22, 2025
Paint outdoors in the umpqua valley
Year after year, our Plein Air event celebrates the landscape of the Umpqua Valley, from its breathtaking emerald rivers to its abundant farmlands. These locations define our area, and they are favorite painting spots year after year. Each summer, UVA offers artists the opportunity to connect with both nature and fellow creatives at their plein air “paint-out” event. After nearly a week of painting in the great outdoors, artists display and sell their work in the UVA galleries; pieces are juried, judged, and eligible to receive purchase awards. Artists searching to stretch their creative muscles, outdoor aficionados, and dedicated art collectors alike will all find something to love about this tribute to the land of the Umpqua. Come join artists who share your passion for plein air art and spectacular, diverse landscapes!
PLEIN AIR HIGHLIGHTS
Reasons to Participate
- Event kickoff with online orientation, juror talk, and live Q&A session.
- Artist Brunch & Check-In to give artists a chance to meet, explore the maps, buddy up, and ask any questions before the event starts.
- Grab-and-go goodies offered at the Brunch for artists who want a quick option for coffee and food on the first paint-out day.
- Extended painting dates to allow for artist flexibility. (Painters do not have to paint every day to participate, or enter their work in the competition.)
- Umpqua Plein Air highlights incredible locations throughout the valley, spanning from Douglas County’s center all the way to the Oregon Coast and featuring stunning views along the North Umpqua River, old-town charm in Oakland, pastoral farmlands, and the wilds of the south!
- Local wineries with sweeping vistas offer artists a chance to sample the local bounty as they create. UVA’s Interactive Google Earth Map highlights several wineries that make perfect paint-out locations.
- Umpqua Plein Air coverage by local media.
- Live Juror Demonstration at the end of the week (for registered artists only).
- Young Artists en Plein Air offers an opportunities for youth to participate in a paint-out. Youth who create their own plein air paintings get to submit their piece(s) for a special showcase of local talent during the Umpqua Plein Air exhibition!
- A juried art contest awarding 40 Awards of Distinction, including 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-place winners, the M. Graham and People’s Choice Awards, and multiple “Best of” awards.
- An exclusive reception for individuals and businesses committed to purchasing artwork through UVA’s Purchase Award Program.
EVENT INFORMATION
Review the entry rules, frequently asked questions, schedule of events, and current artist guide!
Aimee Erickson
Known for an engaging style and versatility in subject matter, Aimee Erickson is an internationally renowned oil painter and instructor. Her first book, Plein Air Techniques for Artists: Principles and Methods for Painting in Natural Light, was released in 2023 to broad acclaim. A standout at plein air painting competitions nationwide, Aimee has won too many top awards to list. She has exhibited with international plein-air groups in China, Turkmenistan, and Russia, is an inaugural member of Charlie Hunter’s En Train Air expedition, and in 1997 painted the official portrait of governor of Oregon Barbara Roberts. Her work has been featured in Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine, Southwest Art Magazine, American Art Collector, and Plein Air Magazine, and on OutdoorPainter.com. Erickson has a BFA in Visual Communication Design with an Illustration emphasis. She lives in Portland, Oregon, and carries a sketchbook.
WHERE CAN WE PAINT?
Click the Map to Explore More!
We’ve outlined 5 regions of Douglas County to make it easy for you to research and decide on beautiful areas to paint. In each region, we’ve provided suggestions, links to more information and directions to help you plan accordingly while traveling throughout our large county. Also try browsing our Interactive Google Earth Map!
Please remember to check hours and conditions of any location before traveling to paint-out spots.
EVENT SPONSORS
Support Those Who Support Us
Special Thanks to These Community Partners
Land acknowledgement
UVA acknowledges, honors and respects the indigenous people of this region, the Umpqua People, on whose ancestral lands the UVA building now stands. These include the Nahank’ uotama (Cow Creek Takelma) and the Upper Umpqua Peoples who later became the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and were incorporated into the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
The Cow Creek Tribal areas include the Cascade and Coast Ranges in Southwestern Oregon, along the South Umpqua River, and its primary feeder stream, Cow Creek. This tribal area includes the Umpqua watershed and surrounding areas. The Indigenous peoples of the Umpqua Valley never surrendered lands or resources to the United States and there are Indigenous communities nationwide that are actively fighting for the preservation of sacred lands.
UVA gratefully recognizes that the Umpqua Valley is made up of many diverse communities of indigenous peoples who continue to live, work and thrive in these lands today.
We invite you to join us in acknowledging all of the above as our shared responsibility and to consider our roles in healing the wounds of the past, so we continue to build a brighter tomorrow.
Land acknowledgement
UVA acknowledges, honors and respects the indigenous people of this region, the Umpqua People, on whose ancestral lands the UVA building now stands. These include the Nahank’ uotama (Cow Creek Takelma) and the Upper Umpqua Peoples who later became the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and were incorporated into the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
The Cow Creek Tribal areas include the Cascade and Coast Ranges in Southwestern Oregon, along the South Umpqua River, and its primary feeder stream, Cow Creek. This tribal area includes the Umpqua watershed and surrounding areas. The Indigenous peoples of the Umpqua Valley never surrendered lands or resources to the United States and there are Indigenous communities nationwide that are actively fighting for the preservation of sacred lands.
UVA gratefully recognizes that the Umpqua Valley is made up of many diverse communities of indigenous peoples who continue to live, work and thrive in these lands today.
We invite you to join us in acknowledging all of the above as our shared responsibility and to consider our roles in healing the wounds of the past, so we continue to build a brighter tomorrow.