The first-ever Plein Air Festival at the Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) is open to the public and artists of all skill levels. It will feature an art sale, various workshops, artist talks, a quick paint challenge, and an award celebration.
OCEANSIDE MUSEUM OF ART - 704 Pier View Way, Oceanside CA 92054
- July 24 - 30, 2021 - Plein Air Festival
- August 1 - October 10, 2021 - Juried Exhibit
“OMA's Plein Air Festival is a creative way for us to highlight our Oceanside community and the stunning and diverse scenery throughout the city,” says Maria Mingalone, Executive Director of Oceanside Museum of Art. “As our inaugural event, we are amazed at the number of artists planning to join us, with over 200 artists registered! This is a great way to celebrate art while supporting local businesses during this time of recovery. Art builds community, brings joy to people's lives, and helps to drive our local economy through cultural tourism. OMA's inaugural Plein Air Festival is good for us all!"
Plein air painting is a painting completed in the field, outside on location, and “in the moment.” Participants will enjoy the very best of Oceanside’s scenery including gorgeous coastlines, charming cityscapes, peaceful lagoons, rolling hills with lush flora and fauna, and the historic Mission San Luis Rey, among other visual splendor to capture in any artistic media or style.
Throughout the week, each participant will complete multiple pieces of artwork. However, they will ultimately only be able to select two to be considered for the awards competition and exhibition jurying. Each painting entered to the competition may be listed for sale during the Awards Celebration and Art Sale on July 31. Artwork accepted in the exhibition will be offered for auction via a virtual platform throughout the exhibition.
To explore a variety of styles and techniques that draw from the rich traditions of plein air painting, artists can add art workshops, a virtual lecture taking an in-depth look at the challenges and important innovations that mark the evolution of outdoor painting with juror and awards judge Jean Stern, and an Artist Talk with featured artists Mark Fehlman, Danny Griego, Margaret Larlham, and Shuang Li.
Also open to all participants is a Quick Paint Challenge. This fun, high-energy event brings together both artists and spectators for a two-hour burst of creativity highlighting one of Oceanside’s most iconic outdoor locations, Mission San Luis Rey. With the task of completing a painting in a single sitting, Quick Paint artists are challenged to grab a brush, set up an easel, and paint en plein air for all to see.
Following the festival, roughly 40 artworks will be juried from submissions by participants in OMA's inaugural Plein Air Festival, including artwork by featured artists Mark Fehlman, Danny Griego, Margaret Larlham, and Shuang Li. This will be a rare opportunity to view and collect artworks from prominent plein air painters at pricing that is approachable for collectors at any level. This exhibition will run August 1-October 10.
Oceanside Museum of Art’s 2021 Plain Air Festival takes place July 24-31 and is open to artists of all levels. The festival will feature art talks from featured artists, a quick paint session and art sale. Festival participants will be able to select two artworks to be considered for the awards competition and to be considered for the juried exhibition and art auction running August 1-October 10. For more information, please visit www.oma-online.org/pleinair