Plein Air Competition

Plein Air (French for "open air") painting became popular in the early nineteenth century in both Europe and America when paint manufacturers made a wide range of pre-mixed oil pigments available for the first time, and the easily transportable box easel, or pochade (quick sketch) box, was developed. Artists could finally take their work into the field with ease—the artist could, as Monet wrote, "...paint the air in which are situated the bridge, the home, the boat."

Landscape painters will invade Carbon and Emery Counties in August 2012. Some of the area's most talented outdoor painters will bring their paint boxes and easels to historic Helper, Utah, well known for its vistas of mountains and red rock cliffs. This remarkable Plein Air Competition is happening in conjunction with the 18th Helper Arts and Music Festival. Artists are expected from the Western region to converge on Helper for three days, August 17-19, 2012 to paint outdoors throughout the area.

For more information contact helperartsfest@gmail.com.