Make space on your calendars and walls for Lighthouse ArtCenter’s 9th Annual Plein Air Festival!

This juried event brings 30 of the country’s top plein air painters to Tequesta for a week of outdoor painting. These artists, painting outdoors, or “en plein air,” will compete for over $20,000 in cash and prizes. The week kicks off with our Paint Out Competition at the beautiful Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens in West Palm Beach. Join us daily at the ArtCenter Gallery to view and purchase the freshly painted work of our talented artists. Check out the free plein air painting demonstrations at picturesque locations across the area. On Friday, add to your art collection at our fabulous Collectors’ Party & Sale. Mix and mingle with the artists and fellow art enthusiasts while feasting on Lighthouse ArtCenter’s signature hors d’ oeuvres. All pieces are available to purchase, including competition pieces. Finish out the week on Saturday with our Small Works Sale and our Live Painting Event at the ArtCenter Gallery. Learn from the masters and enroll in one of our Plein Air Workshops offered before and after the festival.

Event Details

Date:

March 27th- April 2nd, 2022

Location:

373 Tequesta Drive
Tequesta, FL 33469

Participating Artists

We are thrilled to announce our invited artists - get ready for fresh work from 30 of the top plein air artists in the country!

Plein Air Workshops

Several of the exceptional artists participating in our Plein Air Festival will also be offering in-person workshops!

Don't miss the opportunity to learn from these masters - register today!

Plein Air Workshops

Artist Bios

Plein Air Festival Judge

We are pleased to announce that Patrick Saunders will be our 9th Annual Plein Air Festival Judge. Patrick is a Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America and a member of the Portrait Society of America. He is a former Signature Member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, the American Impressionist Society, and the Outdoor Painters Society.

Award-winning artist Patrick Saunders travels the world creating fine art, teaching workshops, and judging painting competitions. After a decade at Hallmark Cards, Patrick accepted a faculty teaching position at his alma mater, the Kansas City Art Institute. This was followed by a career-leading team in New York, San Francisco, and globally, producing award-winning advertising at VMLY&R for Fortune 500 clients. Patrick began Plein Air painting in 2013 and has earned awards from every major Plein Air event in the country, as well as a gold medal from the Oil Painters of America, and honors from the Portrait Society of America, the Society of Illustrators, and Communication Arts. Patrick was first featured in Southwest Art Magazine in 2000, as one of their ’21 under 31’ artists to watch. He has twice been the cover artist for Southwest Art and has also been featured in American Art Collector, Western Art Collector, Plein Air Magazine, and many other publications

Patrick Saunders' Website

2022 Event Schedule

Sunday, March 27th

Sunday, March 27th, 9am - 1:30pm

Paint Out Competition:

Join us at the beautiful Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens in West Palm Beach to participate in or view this exciting plein air competition.

All artists are welcome to participate under one of two self-designated categories, Professional or Amateur Artist. Cash awards and prizes will be available to winners in both categories. Over $2,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded.

9:00 am – 10:00 am | Check in and stamping of panels will begin on site

10:00 am – 12:00 pm | PAINT! Listen for the air horn, which signals when to start and stop painting.

12:00 pm – 12:30pm | Frame and display work on easel

12:30 pm – 1:00 pm | Judging

1:00 pm | Awards announced and prizes distributed

1:00pm – 1:30 pm | Art is offered for sale to the public

All Artists must register by Thursday, March 24, 2022 to participate. Registration is $40 per artist.

Those wanting to attend the Paint Out as spectators (not competitors) do not need to register in advance. Simply pay the Garden’s entrance fee upon arrival - $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $7 for children or students. Click here for Paint Out details and rules.

PAINT OUT REGISTRATION IS SOLD OUT

Monday - Thursday, March 28th - March 31st

Painting en plein air from locales across the area, our incredible artists are in action – stop by to see their progress. Artists create their competition pieces in real-time to compete for cash and prizes. The award-winning pieces (and more) will be available to purchase at our Collectors’ Party & Sale on Friday, April 1st.

Wet Painting Sales in Gallery

Monday, March 28^th Marc Anderson Demo Artist

Curious to learn more about plein air? Learn the secrets of creating beautiful plein air work from expert Marc Anderson among the stunning scenery of House of Refuge Museum .

Monday, March 28th, 9-11 am
House of Refuge Museum, 301 SE MacArthur Boulevard, Stuart, FL 34996
Free and open to the public!

Painting Sales in Gallery
373 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, FL 33469
Monday, March 28^th 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

Tuesday, March 29th: Natalia Andreeva Demo Artist

Enjoy sunshine and sea breeze as you join Natalia Andreeva at Juno Beach Pier to learn the logic behind making decisions on picking subject and mixing color.

Tuesday, March 29, 9-11 am
Juno Beach Pier, 14775 US-1, Juno Beach, FL 33408
Free and open to the public!

Painting Sales in Gallery
373 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, FL 33469
Tuesday, March 29^th 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

Wednesday, March 30^th Mary Hertler Tallman Pastel Demo

Join plein air artist Mary Hertler Tallman as she experiments with light and shadow in picturesque DuBois Park.

Wednesday, March 30, 9-11 am
DuBois Park, 19075 Dubois Rd, Jupiter, FL 33477
Free and open to the public!

Painting Sales in Gallery
373 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, FL 33469
Wednesday, March 30^th 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

Plein Air Wine Tasting in Gallery:

373 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, FL 33469
Wednesday, March 30^th 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Free, pre-registration is required, only 50 tickets are available.
Curated by Via Proxy. Live music and fresh artwork for sale.

SOLD OUT!

Thursday, March 31^st Richard Sneary Watercolor Demo

Learn the secrets of creating beautiful plein air work from expert Richard Sneary among the stunning scenery of Port Salerno Waterfront District.

Thursday, March 31, 9-11 am
Port Salerno Waterfront District, Dixie Highway and Salerno Rd (14.43 mi) Port Salerno, Florida 34997
Free and open to the public!

Painting Sales in Gallery
373 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, FL 33469
Thursday, March 31^st 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

*Follow us on Instagram @lighthousearts for real-time updates

Friday, April 1st

Friday, April 1, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Collectors’ Party & Sale

Add to your collection! Join us for the Collectors’ Party & Sale and purchase freshly painted, one-of-a-kind pieces by our award-winning artists. Mix and mingle with the artists and other art lovers while enjoying Lighthouse ArtCenter’s signature hors d’ oeuvres.

Location:
Lighthouse ArtCenter Gallery
373 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, FL 33469

Saturday, April 2nd

Saturday, April 2, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Small Works Sale and Live Painting Event

Last day to purchase festival paintings! Check out the new 8” x 8” Small Works and witness masters at work painting during a Live Battle of the Brushes event in the Gallery.