Keith Wicks 2011 Artists' Choice Winner

The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation, a non-profit all volunteer organization, presents this annual event that is designed to be casual, interactive and educational.

This juried event brings nationally recognized plein air artists to Sonoma for a week of painting the inspiring landscapes of Sonoma Valley. Whether it is the magnificent green hills with giant oaks, grazing sheep and cows, winding roads, picturesque villages, or the colors and scents of wildflowers---Sonoma Valley is paradise for plein air artists.

Sonoma Plein Air begins on a Monday, when artists arrive in Sonoma. Participating artists wishing accommodations will be assigned to private homes for their six-day stay. They are treated to several gourmet lunches at painting locations. Artists paint throughout the week in Sonoma County. There is no public access during this time.

On Tuesday, Quick Draw takes place in the Plaza during the farmers’ market. This is the first opportunity for the public to meet the artists, watch them paint and purchase one of their paintings. Beginning at 5:30, artists set up their easels around the Plaza and in 1½ hours create a painting that is available to purchase that evening. By 7:30, all artists are gathered with their completed paintings across from Charles Creek Tasting Room where the final viewing and buying begins.

A Gala Dinner with the Artists and Art Auction will be held that Friday. Tickets are required [see Sponsorship page]. Each artist brings his or her best work of the week to be sold at the Silent Auction.

Before the guests arrive, the artists vote on their choice of best painting and the "Artist's Choice Award" is announced. Artists' Choice Award painting is sold that evening in live auction. The winning artist receives a cash award from the Foundation and their painting is used as the following year's image in all promotional materials.

The annual gathering of artists culminates at Sonoma's Historic Plaza for The Art Exhibition and Sale on Saturday. Art lovers and collectors from across the United States mingle with the artists from 10 am - 5 pm. The sun glows through the turning leaves of trees as soothing live music creates the perfect setting for the Exhibition. Art created during the week is exhibited and offered for sale. There will be art demonstrations in oil, watercolor and pastel beginning at 11 am. Representatives from Fine Line Art Supply and Saviour Fair Art Supply will be available to answer your art materials questions. Admission is free.

Less familiar to audiences today than Impressionism, Tonalism was an important late 19th-century plein-air style that shared the Impressionist goal of capturing the effects of natural light. Tonalists, however, focused on subtle variations of color that occur in diffused and muted light. Perhaps as much a response to local climate as an artistic preference, Impressionism influenced plein-air artists working under southern California's intense, clear sunlight, while plein-air artists in northern California preferred Tonalism, which allowed painters to capture the lyrically subtle light of our moisture-laden atmosphere.

Plein-air painting encourages artists to convey the essence of the scene directly before them. Some plein-air artists do not finish their paintings in one sitting, choosing instead to return to the location to complete their canvases. All immerse themselves in the ambience of natural light and atmosphere, giving personal expression to their own impressions of nature's ever-changing moods.

This is one of the most spontaneous - and challenging - styles of painting.

Past Artists Choice Awards

2010 • Dick Cole		2009 • Robert Sandidge
2008 • Tim Horn		2006 • Nancy MacDonald
2005 • Kim Fancher Lordier		2004 • Michael Situ
2003 • Jeanette LeGrue