“You are accepted”

I’m happy to say that I’ve been accepted into the 2025 Pacific Northwest Plein Air event in the Columbia River Gorge April 21-26, 2025. This is my third time to apply to this event, and my first time to be accepted.

I’ll be joining about forty other painters in Hood River, Oregon, for the opening get-together. From there, we’ll spread out to paint anywhere in the Columbia River Gorge. It’s a great honor to be selected, and I’ll be painting alongside some excellent painters. I’ll have to be on my game!

As more and more people take up plein air painting, there are increasing numbers of plein air festivals like this one. Typically, a small number of artists are selected on the basis of the plein air paintings they submit in their application. On the first day of the festival, each artist gets their papers or canvases stamped on the back, as a way of certifying that their work has been done in the time period allowed.

Usually artists are given four or five days to produce their paintings. On the last day, artists bring their framed paintings to a gallery where they’re hung for an exhibition. The judge selects the award-winning paintings, and a reception is held for the public. Often these are gala affairs with wine, refreshments, and lots of people, including collectors. Paintings are sold!

Here’s a link to the event.