October is a very artistic month in Sedona, with many of our festivals celebrating not just the end of summer (they have been a little warm over the last few years, at least during the daylight hours) but also the masterpieces of local artists, with the Sedona Plein Air Festival being one of our favorites. This fun festival offers the rare opportunity to see the process behind the finished works with the artists working on their trades in the great outdoors, amazing all that come upon them while at work. Your October or November visit to Arizona will surely inspire return trips, especially when you experience all the comforts of our Sedona.Org vacation sanctuaries after spending your daylight hours exploring the artistic talent that is on display in abundance.
An Interesting History
Plein Air painting has long been a practice of artists from all over the world, as it simply refers to the art of painting outdoors. How many movies have we seen over the years where the artist lugs his or her easel to some particularly scenic spot, setting up a temporary studio and putting the scenes they see on the canvas in front of them? The Sedona Plein Air Festival has celebrated that practice for over 20 years, inviting artists to join in the fun while we who can’t draw or paint feel inspired by just breathing the same air as they artists do. Sponsored by the Sedona Arts Center, the original artist’s “colony” and the reason behind our town’s artistic abundance, this unique festival allows art connoisseurs to explore the process behind the genius without losing any of its magic.
The Events of the Festival
Offering a variety of events over the length of the festival, including an opener held at the Art/Barn Theater (14 Art Barn Road) in which the public is invited to meet some of the artists they will be watching over the next eight days, visitors can expect Paint Out days, demonstrations, lectures, and classes in which the public can participate. On Paint Out days, artists gather together to paint the same scenery and then are judged on their work’s merits, with the winner of the day receiving bragging rights. The locations may change every year, and often there may be music, wine, and food accompanying the artists at work, adding an extra layer of fun to the event. Even better, every painting you watch being created can be purchased, giving the artist the means to continue his work for years to come. On awards day, because yes, there is judging, awards, and cash prizes up to $13,000, visitors can purchase the winning paintings, taking them home as a reminder of the fun they had during their stay in Sedona. All paintings will be listed for sale, so be sure to keep an eye out for your favorite.
More to Explore
The festival ends with a fun Artists Games Night, providing yet another challenge for the artists that are participating in the festival. The games are designed to show creativity, flexibility, and ingenuity, and yes, the works created during Artists Games Night will be offered for sale as well. This is an optional event, and as it occurs after the awards night (attendance by every artist is required on awards night), the artist you love most may not be participating, so we urge our guests to not wait until the last minute to purchase the art of their favorite artist. Additionally, the proceeds from Games Night will go to the Sedona Art Center, being used for scholarships and the continuation of their celebration and encouragement of art and the artists who create.
Our Favorite Part
The Sedona Plein Air festival has a lot of elements that make it one of our favorite art events, but perhaps our favorite part of the entire festival is seeing how artists from all over the world interpret the beauty of our Sedona landscape. Even as they are all painting the same scene—perhaps a part of Oak Creek with the red rocks behind it or maybe the idyllic beauty of land and home outside a private residence in Sedona—each masterpiece may look completely different from the others, proving that beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. We love every interpretation offered, and we often have to hold ourselves back from buying each piece we see, wanting to ensure that others get a chance to own a piece of Sedona!
Come Home to Sedona.Org
As mentioned before, our homes offer comfort, luxury, and the style they provide is often due to the creative art pieces that are found throughout each space, some of which may have been purchased from previous Plein Air Festivals. Reserve your favorite escape today!