A Festival of Art and Nature
Plein Air at the Arboretum, a Festival of Art and Nature will return for its second year on Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
En plein air is a French term that translates into in the open air. And what better place to paint en plein air than at the beautiful State Arboretum of Virginia. For four days, September 18th through 21st, 100 plein air artists from across the region and country will visit the State Arboretum of Virginia at Blandy Experimental Farm to capture the beauty of our many vistas on canvas. The event will culminate with a public festival and fundraising event, featuring an art show, and wet paint sale of some of the award winning plein air art painted during the week, including some novice youth work completed by children in the 5th to 7th grade.
The public festival will also include food trucks, a winery, music, an occasion to mingle with plein air artists, and of course an opportunity to purchase and take home a one-of-a-kind piece of art of your favorite Blandy landscape. Kids can participate in their own Plein Air art at the three Family Art Tables. Local artist Tanya Gupta has created line drawings of three scenes for kids to color standing at the spot where Tanya drew them. Be sure to visit all three tables!
The FREE public festival will be open from 10 - 5 on Saturday, September 21st, with a wet-paint art sale from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. that day. *A portion of the art sale will benefit the Foundation of the State Arboretum of Virginia.
2024 Plein Air in the Arboretum featured artists who will also be selling their work at the public event include Lori Goll, Alison Barry, Kim Hall, Tomas Ehrenberger, Tracy Burk, Marci Green, Laura Hopkins and Lynn Mehta. The Wet Paint Plein Air competition will be judged by Catherine Hillis and the Quick Draw competition will be judged by Barbara Harris. On Thursday, September 19th, from 3 – 5 p.m., stop by the Arboretum for Plein Air painting demonstrations from the Plein Air judges and featured artists as they paint in their favorite mediums. The painting demonstrations are open to the public and a great way to experience the Arboretum through the eyes of these talented artists.
The Quick Draw competition is also open to the public. Set for Saturday, September 21 from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m., all skill levels are welcome. There is a $10 fee to enter the competition, and registration will take place from 8:00 - 8:45 a.m. that day. Entries will be judged by Barbara Harris at 11:15 a.m. with an awards ceremony scheduled for 12:00 p.m. Artists are invited to exhibit and sell their Quick Draw artwork on Saturday, September 21, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Quick Draw Sale Tent. Pre-purchase your Quick Draw ticket on Eventbrite.
Want to Volunteer? We are looking for volunteers to help pre, post ,and during this fun event. We have lots of opportunties. Check our our Sign-Up Genius to learn more!
Plein Air at the Arboretum is a collaboration with the NOVA Plein Air Artists and Foundation of the State Arboretum (FOSA) the nonprofit that supports Blandy Experimental Farm and the State Arboretum's varied collections and public education programs. Proceeds from the Plein Air event benefit FOSA.
The Plein Air at the Arboretum Festival of Art and Nature is supported by:
