What is Plein Air?
Plein air or outdoor painting dates from the 19th century, when Englishman John Constable and the French Barbizon painters rejected traditional artistic formulas and sought to depict everyday subjects in natural settings. These Realists inspired the Impressionists, who believed objects in nature were not form, but rather light that could be conveyed by color. Lead by Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Edouard Degas, Auguste Renoir, among others, the Impressionists took their paint tubes and easels outdoors, where they recreated the world as colors, which suggested light. At first, their outdoor sketches were used to produce larger, more finished works in the studio. Eventually, they began completing their works outdoors. Although at first rebuffed for what appeared to be unfinished paintings, the Impressionist vision soon became a standard for truthfully conveying the outdoor experience.

Artists in the United States were attracted to the concept, and many, like Californian Guy Rose, traveled to France to study with the French Impressionists. Suddenly, locations with remarkable light were of particular interest to painters including both the East and West Coasts and the American Southwest where painting colonies formed.

Today, there are more than 500 registered plein air artists in the United States working "en plein air" to capture the light and colors particular to the location.

Wondering what the Telluride Plein Air Celebration is like? Take a look at our 2006 celebration by clicking on the logo below.

20008 Schedule

June 29th - July 2nd, 2008 - All Day
Plein Air Artists at Work - Various Locations
Visitors and locals alike will have the unique opportunity to observe 30 of the nation's top plein air artists as they paint on location in the Telluride, Colorado.

July 1-July 3, 2008 - 11-3pm Daily
Masterpiece Exhibition - Mountain Village Core - This event is free and open to the public!
New to the event this year, the Gallery Exhibition will allow artists to showcase a landscape painting they feel best represents their work– free from the restrictions of time and location! These paintings will be displayed for a limited time in the Mountain Village Core beginning Tuesday, July 1 and concluding on Thursday, July 3.

July 3rd, 2008 - 10:30am-12pm
Plein Air Quick Draw Event - Main Street - This event is free and open to the public!
The Sheridan Arts Foundation and the Telluride Ah Haa School of Arts will be sponsoring a Quick Draw event during the 2008 Telluride Plein Air Celebration. The Quick Draw is a 90 minute on-site painting demonstration and competition that will be held on Main Street beginning at the San Miguel County Courthouse. The Quick Draw competition is open only to the Telluride Plein Air Celebration artists. This competition will be judged by the Ah Haa School of Arts in the Sheridan Opera House Courtyard at 12pm. The winner will receive a cash award and have their piece featured at the 2008 Ah Haa School's Art Auction. All Quick-Draw paintings are limited to 8" X 10" in size and will be on display and available for purchase once the winner has been announced.

July 3, 2008 - 6pm-8pm
Artist Choice Cocktail Party, Auction & Concert - Sheridan Opera House - $75/couple or $40/individual
Order your tickets now for Monday night's "Artist Choice Auction" at the Sheridan Opera House. This premier showing will feature each artist's most favored piece of the week. Enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres while meeting the 2008 Telluride Plein Air Celebration artists and having the exclusive chance to bid on these remarkable paintings. The "2008 Artist Choice Award" piece will also be unveiled at this event. This evening will close with a TBA concert.

July 4th & July 5th, 2008
Exhibition & Art Sale - Sheridan Opera House Courtyard /Elks Park - This event is free and open to the public!
July 4 - 10-11am & 12-3pm
(We will pause the Exhibition from 11-12pm for the Town of Telluride Fourth of July Parade)


July 5 - 10am-4pm
Join us in the Sheridan Opera Courtyard and Elks Park for an exhibition and sale of pieces created during the week-long celebration.

Please note that if you are looking for a particular scene, commissioned pieces can easily be arranged. For more information please call Ronnie Palamar at 970.728.6363.
 

Staff Contacts:
Telephone: 970.728.6363
General Email:

Info@sheridanoperahouse.com



Ronnie Palamar
Event Director Keith Wicks
Event Advisor/Artist Liason
Jennifer Julia
Lodging Michael Anzalone
PR/Marketing & Production
Kay Semrod
Business Manager Luke Slayman
Production