Friday, August 25 Estes Valley Plein Air Gala Opening Day

Gala Reception 5–7 p.m. Awards at 6:00 p.m. All artwork is for sale.

Every August, well-known artists from all over the country converge on Estes Park for this event. These juried and invited artists have a limited amount of time to paint "en plein air," a French term meaning "in open air." They paint on location in Rocky Mountain National Park and within 50 miles of the Estes Valley. Special events in conjunction with EVPA include a poster/postcard and wine label contest, a nocturne paint out opportunity, a miniature contest, a group paint out, an educational program, and a Quick Paint at Riverside Plaza in which artists have a limited amount of time to complete paintings that are then auctioned to the public.

The paintings completed during EVPA are revealed at this gala opening and awards ceremony at the Art Center of Estes Park and will be for sale for a month, attracting many art collectors and plein air aficionados. The 2023 event will take place August 17-24, with the show opening August 25 and running through September 24.

This juried show is open to any artist using oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel or gouache. If you are interested in participating in the show, click here to apply.  For more information about the show, email pleinair@artcenterofestes.com

Click here for full schedule of events during Estes Valley Plein Air