There’s magic in the way artists capture their subjects, but we often only see the final product, not the process. In a few weeks, those magic moments will be on full display during the Oceanside Plein Air Festival, returning for its third biennial event from September 6–13.
Oceanside will become the muse for more than 200 artists from across the country as they take their easels outdoors to paint the city ‘en plein air.’ Hosted by Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA), this weeklong festival invites the public to head to North County to watch art come alive in real time and collect original works fresh off the easel.
With ‘paint outs’ at iconic landmarks like Oceanside Harbor, Roberts Cottages, Ivey Ranch, and Mission San Luis Rey, the week culminates in a vibrant outdoor art sale and juried exhibition at OMA. The final exhibition, on display at the museum after the festival, is a love letter to O’Side, painted in O’side.
Oceanside Plein Air Festival Public Events:
· Paint Out at Robert’s Cottages – Saturday, September 6, 5:30pm – 7:00pm: Watch artists paint the iconic seaside cottages on The Strand at golden hour.
· Paint Out at Oceanside Harbor – Monday, September 8, 5:30pm – 7:00pm: See fishing boats and wildlife captured on canvas at the Oceanside Harbor.
· Quick Paint Challenge at Mission San Luis Rey – Tuesday, September 9, 10:00am – 12:00pm: Watch the high-adrenaline speed painting challenge at the historic Mission.
· Paint Out at Ivey Ranch – Wednesday, September 10, 2:00pm – 5:00pm: Head inland to see artists paint animals and more at the local non-profit ranch.
· The Big Teeny Tiny Friday Drop-In Workshop at OMA – Friday, September 12, 11:00am-4:00pm: Drop in to OMA on Friday to join the Teeny Tiny creation craze for a good cause. Submit your 5″ x 5″ masterpiece by 4:00pm on Friday to be eligible for a cash prize, announced at the Plein Air Awards Ceremony on Saturday, September 13. Submitted artwork will be considered a donation to OMA and will be for sale at $25 each. All proceeds go directly towards providing thousands of students annually with transformative arts-based educational experiences.
· Big Public Easel Sale – September 13, 10:00am–3:00pm: Directly across the street from the museum, shop a stunning showcase of original works of plein air art in a variety of media created over the course of the festival. Find the next gem for your collection at pricing accessible to any level of collector or simply browse the hundreds of artistic interpretations of Southern California’s natural beauty.
· Plein Air Festival Awards Celebration – September 13, 11:00am-12:00pm: Celebrate the culmination of the third Oceanside Plein Air Festival with fellow artists and art lovers. Join us as we recognize the outstanding paintings in various categories and award the winning prizes, including Best in Show judged by Peter Adams, Toni Williams, and OMA Executive Director Maria Mingalone. Artwork from the exhibition will be available to purchase, with a VIP pre-sale taking place from 10:00am – 12:00pm.
· Juried Exhibition – September 13, 2024 – January 11, 2025: 60 pieces of art from the festival, including the award-winning pieces, will be on display at Oceanside Museum of Art in the 2025 Plein Air Festival Exhibition.
The festival is free to attend as a spectator, but participating artists must register to participate in painting events and to submit artwork. Artists of all levels can sign up now through September 5 at www.oma-online.org/pleinair/.
