In July of 2008, 32 nationally recognized plein air artists gathered in Telluride, Colorado for the 5th Annual Telluride Plein Air celebration. The Sheridan Arts Foundation and Keith Wicks, Executive Director of Sonoma Plein Air, joined together to bring this exciting event back to Telluride. The first of its kind in this internationally renowned resort area, this event benefits community programming at the foundation's historic Sheridan Opera House.

Once again, from June 29th through July 4th, 2009 visitors and locals alike will have the unique opportunity to observe some of the nation's top plein air artists as they capture the area's flower-filled meadows, majestic mountain views and historic downtown dating to the turn of the last century. On July 3rd and 4th Elks Park and the courtyard located in front of the historic Sheridan Opera House are reserved for an exhibition and sale of the pieces created during this week-long celebration of plein air painting.

Come take advantage of this amazing opportunity to meet the artists, learn about outdoor painting, support art education in the community and have fun in beautiful Telluride, Colorado.

What is Plein Air?
Plein air or outdoor painting dates from the 19th century, when Englishman John Constable and the French Barbizon painters rejected traditional artistic formulas and sought to depict everyday subjects in natural settings. These Realists inspired the Impressionists, who believed objects in nature were not form, but rather light that could be conveyed by color. Lead by Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Edouard Degas, Auguste Renoir, among others, the Impressionists took their paint tubes and easels outdoors, where they recreated the world as colors, which suggested light. At first, their outdoor sketches were used to produce larger, more finished works in the studio. Eventually, they began completing their works outdoors. Although at first rebuffed for what appeared to be unfinished paintings, the Impressionist vision soon became a standard for truthfully conveying the outdoor experience.

Artists in the United States were attracted to the concept, and many, like Californian Guy Rose, traveled to France to study with the French Impressionists. Suddenly, locations with remarkable light were of particular interest to painters including both the East and West Coasts and the American Southwest where painting colonies formed.

Today, there are more than 500 registered plein air artists in the United States working "en plein air" to capture the light and colors particular to a location.

We welcome you to Telluride, Colorado in 2009 for this very special event!