Door County Plein Air Festival

Events: July 19-25, 2020

Exhibition: Through August 8, 2020

The Midwest's premier outdoor painting event. Featuring 39 contemporary plein air masters from around the U.S.

 

 

About the Festival

Events: July 19-25, 2020
Exhibition through August 8, 2020

The Door County Plein Air Festival presented by Peninsula School of Art celebrates the tradition of outdoor painting with some of the finest painters from Door County and across the country. 39 artists will put brush to canvas, capturing the summer light over the waters and fields of Door County, Wisconsin. Painting from life and the landscape has long been a Door County tradition, and one that has endured evolving styles. The festival’s painters bring a fresh eye to the changing lights and colors, and a variety of styles that draw from the rich traditions of plein air painting.

PalecekDK Palecek 2019 Door County Plein Air Festival Best in Show

Listen and learn from daily artist demonstrations. Tour local partner galleries as artists paint on site. Relax with great music and food at our sunset concert* and paint out.  View presentations by the festival judge, award winning artists, and knowledgeable collectors. View fresh paintings at our Collector's Preview Gala Auction.* Children can try painting plein air during our Kid's Paint, Saturday, July 25. Be at the heart of festival excitement during the Quick Paint competition. Vote for your favorite artists at our Open Door Reception. Take home an original piece of fine art.

*Denotes ticketed events, otherwise all are free and open to the public.

 

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2020 Event Schedule

Free and ticketed events throughout the week.

Sunday 7.19.20

5:00-7:30PM
Welcome Dinner
Palette Pass Exclusive
Meet the 2020 Door County Plein Air Festival artists at this fun and informal event, featuring a Midwestern picnic, and live music on the grounds of Peninsula School of Art.

Monday 7.20.20

11:00AM-2:00PM
Artists Paint Door County
Free to the public
Peninsula Players Theatre and Edgewood Orchard Galleries, Fish Creek
2:00-4:00PM
Tea and Talk with the Artists
Palette Pass Exclusive
Join us for a light tea and an opportunity to meet the new artists of the 2020 Door County Plein Air Festival at Fine Line Designs Gallery, Ephraim.

Tuesday 7.21.20

11:00AM-2:00PM
Artists Paint Door County
Free to the public
The Farm and The Garden Door, Sturgeon Bay

Wednesday 7.22.20

11:00AM-2:00PM
Artists Paint Door County
Free to the public
Woodwalk Gallery and Plum Bottom Gallery, Egg Harbor
6:30PM-Dark
Sunset and Nocturne Paint Out
Free and open to the public.
Featured Festival Artists paint throughout Fish Creek's waterfront and downtown.
7:00-9:00PM
Art & All that Jazz
Tickets $30 | Free for Palette Pass holders
Meet the artists, swing to live jazz, sip champagne and sample a section of french-inspired hors d'oeuvres and cheeses at Clark Park, Fish Creek.

Thursday 7.23.20

11:00AM-2:00PM
Artists Paint Door County
Free to the public
Door County Brewing Company, Baileys Harbor and The Hardy Gallery, Ephraim
3:00-4:00PM
Lecture with the Festival Judge
Tickets $10 | Free for Palette Pass holders
Join the 2020 Door County Plein Air Festival for an informative talk on the art of plein air painting. Pre-registration is suggested.

Friday 7.24.20

All Day
Gallery Closed
No public viewing
PenArt's gallery is closed during the day in preparation for Friday evening's Gala.
5:00-6:30PM
Collector's Preview
Palette Pass Exclusive
The most desirable benefit, exclusively for Palette Pass holders. Enjoy an hour in our gallery to purchase paintings before Gala ticket holders arrive. Passed hors d’oeuvres and a champagne toast.
6:30-9:00PM
Gala Auction
Tickets $55 | Free for Palette Pass holders
Hors d’oeuvres, wine, music, desserts, plus fresh paintings from each of our Door County Plein Air Festival Featured Artists. Paintings, sold by silent auction, are ready to go home when you are. (Ticket does not include Collector’s Preview).

Saturday 7.25.20

9:00AM-3:00 PM
Gallery Open
Free and open to the public
The Guenzel Gallery of Peninsula School of Art is open throughout the day for viewing and purchase of works created by the 2020 Door County Plein Air Festival Featured Artists.
9:00AM-2:00PM
Quick Paint and Live Auction
Free and open to the public | Lunch included for Palette Pass holders
Watch Featured Artists complete a painting from start to finish during the fast-paced Quick Paint. Live auction of the Featured Artists paintings begins at noon under the tent at Waterfront Park. No pre-registration required to bid on paintings. Rain or shine under the event tent at the Waterfront Park, Sister Bay.
9:00-11:00AM
Dockside Quick Paint
$30 to register to paint | Free and open to the public
Presented in partnership with the Hardy Gallery. All artists are invited to paint outdoors, alongside the Festival's Featured Artists during the Dockside Quick Paint. Ballots will be cast at the Open Door Celebration to select the winners of the Dockside Quick Paint. Over $2,500 in art supply awards sponsored by The Artists Guild, Sturgeon Bay.
9:00-11:00AM
Kids' Paint
$5 per child | No pre-registration
Kids can join in the excitement of the Quick Paint too. The fee includes their supplies and a little assistance in getting started for this drop-in family event. Pre-registration not required.
6:00-8:00PM
Open Door Reception
Free and open to the public | Cash bar | Free for Palette Pass holders
An evening to be enjoyed by all. Free and open to the public. Hors d’oeuvres, beverages and wine sold by the glass. View and purchase artworks from featured Festival Artists, as well as artists participating in the Dockside QuickPaint.

Sunday 7.26.20

9:00AM-3:00PM
Gallery Open
Free and open to the public.
The Guenzel Gallery of Peninsula School of Art is open throughout the day for viewing and purchase of works created by the 2020 Door County Plein Air Festival Featured Artists. Regular gallery hours (Mon-Sat, 8am-5pm) resume Monday, July 27.
 

Artists & Participation

Get to know the festival artists, participate in the Dockside Quickpaint, and learn about our invitations process.
Featured Artists

2020 Featured Artists

39 CONTEMPORARY PLEIN AIR MASTERS

Nationally-recognized artists from across the U.S. and Canada.

Learn More  
Dockside-1

Dockside Quick Paint

OPEN TO ARTISTS OF ALL MEDIA AND LEVELS

Paint alongside the Featured Artists at the annual Dockside Quick Paint competition.

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Artist Selection3

Featured Artist Selection

THE INVITATIONAL PROCESS

The Door County Plein Air Festival is an invitational event. Featured Artist selection process begins the year prior to the event.

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Sponsored BY
 

Tickets on Sale Now

Tickets for all 2019 Door County Plein Air Festival events, including Palette Passes are available online or by calling 920.868.3455.

Buy Tickets

Peninsula School of Art provides enriching, educational experiences to participants of all ages and abilities that broaden individual perspectives, and fosters a community dedicated to the transformative power of the visual arts. Peninsula School of Art is a designated 501(c)3 organization.

Contact Us

920-868-3455

info@PeninsulaSchoolofArt.org

3900 County Road F | P.O. Box 304
Fish Creek, WI 54212

May to Oct, Mon-Sat, 8am-5pm
Nov to Apr: Tue-Sat, 8am-5pm

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