Cape Ann Plein Air

Cape Ann Plein Air is a week-long, juried & judged, plein air painting competition, celebrating painting outdoors. Derived from the French 'en plein air', it refers to artists working outdoors to capture the light, atmosphere and spirit of a scene they are set up to view and capture: a snapshot of sorts as crafted by a painter. Painters can work in several different mediums (oils, acrylics, watercolors or pastels) using portable easels.
The history of plein air painting has its root in the early to mid 1800s in France, but Cape Ann was certainly one of the earliest places where the method found traction in America, after Boston artists traveled to France and brought the technique home. Just a short trip up the Massachusetts coast, Cape Ann was a natural place for these painters to work, because of both the natural beauty of the rugged coastal landscape as well as the unique light, affected by the surrounding ocean.
Cape Ann Plein Air brings a well-organized, professional plein air painting competition (and competitors) back to where it all began!
Cape Ann Plein Air will offer generous awards, top-notch jurying and judging, housing for the participating artists, great art-related happenings throughout the event, with world class artwork created by top-of-the-field plein air painters, of our beautiful Cape, available at the conclusion. this event took place for the very first time, from October 10th through the 16th, 2016.
Calendar of events includes:
An opening, Meet-the-Artists reception at North Shore Arts Association
A quick-draw painting event with open registration, artist talks and demos throughout the week and a Grand Gala reception, awards ceremony and sale.
For more information and complete calendar of events, please visit www.capeannpleinair.com