Plein Air Exhibit

and Community Event

Opening Reception

June 5, 5:30-8 PM

Park Coworking

2040 14th St, Boulder, CO 80302

Watch Artists at Work

The community is invited to watch the plein air artists at work at two public paint-outs this year. Each organized group painting session offers a genuine chance for you to stop, watch, and ask questions about this fascinating and approachable art form.

This year’s paint-outs:

Chautauqua Park, Tuesday, June 2, 9 AM to 5 PM

Boulder Farmers Market, Wednesday, June 3, 3:30–7:30 PM

Both events are free and open to the public. No registration required.

All Artwork for Sale!

Exhibit Hours:

  • Monday–Friday: 8 AM to 3 PM

  • Saturday–Sunday: Noon to 3 PM

Boulder County, May 31 - June 5

Fifty Artists. Six Days. A Community Celebration of Plein Air Painting in Boulder County.

What happens when 50 artists fan out across Boulder County —into its meadows, mountain foothills, historic streetscapes, and farmers’ markets— and capture it all on canvas in real time? Starting May 31, we’ll all get to find out. Open Studios, Boulder County’s most comprehensive visual arts nonprofit, presents the 2026 Boulder County Plein Air Community Event and Exhibit, running from May 31 through June 5, with an exhibit and sale on view throughout June.

What is Plein Air?

Something magical happens when an artist sets up an easel outdoors and paints exactly what's in front of them — the light, the wind, the moment. That's plein air painting. From the French "en plein air" (in the open air), it's one of the most alive art forms there is.

In the 1830s, French painters started hauling their supplies out of studios and into the countryside. One invention made it possible: the collapsible paint tube. Suddenly, fully prepared oil paints could go anywhere — and the plein air movement was born.

Plein Air workshops

Interested in learning to paint en plein air yourself? Register for one (or both) of this year’s workshops:

All Levels Plein Air Painting/Drawing Class with Award-Winning Plein Air Artist Kathleen Lanzoni

Draw and Paint Trees Outdoors with Award-Winning Artist Gretchen Acharya

2026 Plein Air Artists

Gretchen Acharya

Christine Belin

Linda Bice

Kathy Bogan

Andrew Busch

Vera Coberley

Peg Connery-Boyd

Marcio Correa

Richelle Cripe

Kay Keyes Farrar

Linda Sole Faul

Cathy Faughnan

Kay McKinlay Ford

Keith French

Tamara Gonda

Lonny Granston

Bonnie Hautamaki

Joshua Heinsz

Danitza Hill

Kristal Hoeh

Brent Hollingshead

Brittany Horrigan

Clair Huffine

Steven Homsher

Janyce Jaramillo

Lili Francklyn

Jody Kauflin

Kathleen Lanzoni

Jonathan Machen

David W. Mayer

Deb McCahan

Eileen McIlvain

Mary Ellen Metke

Bethanie Pack

Jeffrey Pacione

Julia Robinson

Marian Rothschild

George Sanderson

Lisa Seaman

David Orrin Smith

Margee Sullivan

Kevin Szuch

Jason Tattinger

Lindsay Jane Ternes

Jan Vanderlinden

Jim Wester

Scott Willhite

Lauren Williamson

Jordan Wolfson

Pete Wysong

Past Festivals - Sampling of Artist Work