Next Tuesday, August 18 marks the kick off for the Brewery Art Center’s annual Plein Air Festival and competition, a four-day, outdoor art event open to artists across all ages, experience levels, and mediums.
For five years, the competition functioned as Carson City Watercolors, a similar contest though open to watercolor-only artists. According to BAC Deputy Director Val Moore, the contest was brought to the Brewery Arts Center by its creator, local artist Colleen Reynolds.
Last year, the competition was run as usual, but with this year marking the first to be completely BAC-ran, it will also be expanded to a variety of mediums.
“The biggest change this year from last year is it’s open to different mediums,” said Moore. “Last year it was watercolors only, but this year we’re doing oil, acrylics, pen and ink — whatever [artists] want to do.”
Plein air painting requires artists to work entirely outdoors in the field, completing their entire painting on-site without the assistance of photographs or studio touch-ups.
While the event is a competition, it’s more so a chance for artists to come together to meet, share tips, and welcome each other into the community. Artists from every experience level are encouraged to participate — whether they only recently picked up a brush, or have been creating for decades.
“Everybody is very supportive of each other,” Moore said. “They go out to paint together, encourage each other — it’s very welcoming.”
Participating artists will check in on Tuesday, August 18, to have their paper, canvas or other medium officially stamped before heading out to paint across the scenic landscapes of northern Nevada.
Artists have until Tuesday to register for the competition, with walk-up registrations and payments accepted at the Brewery Arts Center on the opening day.
The registration fee is $60, which includes one competition piece. Artists can purchase up to two additional competitive entries for $20 each.
A total of over $6,000 in cash prizes will be awarded across three categories:
- watercolors;
- acrylics, gouache, and oil paints;
- pen, pencils, and pastels.
First-place winners in each category will receive a $1,000 cash prize, with second-place prizes set at $150. A $1,000 Best in Show award and a $500 People’s Choice award will also be presented.
For community members who are not competing, the festival features several public events:
- Free Painting Demonstration: Renowned Reno-based plein air artist David McCamant will host a free painting demonstration open to the public on Tuesday, August 18, at 3:00 p.m. in the Exhibition Hall.
- Daily Guided Field Tours: Instructor Paolo Acuna will lead daily guided walking tours to help visiting and local artists find scenic spots in the field. These tours are free and open to anyone.
- Artistic Workshop: David McCamant, known for his dramatic depictions of skies and clouds, will lead an aptly-named “Skies and Clouds Workshop” on Friday, August 21, at 1:00 p.m. The workshop is open to the public and costs $60.
- Exhibition & Silent Auction: Completed artworks must be submitted by Friday afternoon and will be displayed in the Exhibition Hall over the weekend. The public is invited to view the gallery and participate in a silent auction on Sunday, August 23, to purchase original pieces.
The silent auction will be the culmination of the event. Both artists and community members alike will be able to view — and purchase — the hard work festival artists will be putting in across the four-days spent outdoors in the region.
“We’re very excited about the silent auction on Sunday, because it will be a chance for artists to receive exposure for their finished product,” Moore said. “The festival isn’t just for artists, the community is welcomed to all of the events, including the silent auction.”
Prospective artists and community members can find the full event schedule, workshop registration, and competitor sign-ups online at the Brewery Arts Center website:
