August 10, 2018

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Partners in landscape and the arts!

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The artists of Sonoma Plein Air 2018 have a very special opportunity to paint on private lands protected by the Sonoma Land Trust - the Glen Oaks Ranch, the Laufenberg Ranch and Sears Point Ranch. Since 1976, Sonoma Land Trust has protected more than 48,000 acres of beautiful, productive and environmentally significant land in and around Sonoma County.

Dave Koehler, executive director of Sonoma Land Trust, says, “We are so delighted that the Sonoma Plein Air artists will be able to visit and interpret the beauty of our protected lands through their paintings. We look forward to sharing their art with everyone at the Festival!”

Sonoma Land Trust believes land is the foundation of our economy and our community’s health and well-being. Since 1976, Sonoma Land Trust has protected more than 50,000 acres of scenic, natural, agricultural and open land for future generations, and is accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. For more information, please visit www.sonomalandtrust.org.

Invitations to the 2018 Sonoma Plein Air Gala will be in this week's mail! Join us under the stars at Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma, on Friday, September 14, with an opening reception at 5:30 featuring a silent auction of original works by this year's artists. This is where they bring their best work and vote on the Artists' Choice Award. Enjoy a glorious dinner, dessert and sips in the Bubble Lounge as we raise funds to support art education for the youth of Sonoma Valley!

Tickets are available on our website.

Thank you, Transcendence Theatre Company! Discounted tickets for Sonoma Plein Air fans!

As a local non-profit partner, we invite you to enjoy a magical evening at Broadway Under the Stars at Jack London State Park. Visit the Transcendence website and order your tickets for Sonoma Plein Air night, Friday, September 7th. Get $7 off each ticket you purchase by using the code SPASEP7 - and $4 will be donated back to Sonoma Plein Air by Transcendence Theatre Company. A win-win for the arts and you!

The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization and 40 percent of each painting's purchase price is a donation to support art education in the community and public schools in Sonoma Valley.

July 23, 2018

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A preview of 2018 Sonoma Plein Air

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On Friday of festival week (September 10-15, 2018), every artist selects what they believe is their finest painting of the week, frames it and bring it to the Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma, site of the 2018 Sonoma Plein Air Gala. The Artists' Choice Award is selected by the jury of peers. Then, a bidding war ensues via silent auction among the gala patrons for all the paintings! Here are a few of the previous winners will be joining us in September.

Eric Bowman says, “painting (particularly in California where I grew up) is my greatest passion. Although the California I grew up in is mostly gone now, there are still areas where I can paint that take me back to a place partly real, partly imagined that satisfy my soul…Beautiful Sonoma County is such a place for me and I am extremely honored and happy to be back here for my 9th year at Sonoma Plein Air!” Find him on Facebook, and keep updated on his work via his website.

Sergio Lopez, born in 1983, is a native of Sonoma County. He finds the area ever-inspiring, and never ceases to find a new gorgeous area no matter how often he explores. He enjoys discovering new vistas, setting up his easel, and creating a piece on the spot. He believes there is no better way to discover the truth and essence of a scene than by standing before it and studying it carefully. A graduate of the Academy of Art in San Francisco, Sergio is an exemplary painter in a variety of mediums, as evidenced by the work shown on his website.

Robert Sandidge lives "above the store" in an 165 year-old historic building in downtown Diamond Springs, California. With his wife Jackie, their main intent is to live an artful lifestyle in Gold Rush country with their art galley business and residence in one convenient location. He has participated in the Sonoma Plein Air event since the inception. He says, "Sonoma Plein Air is my favorite plein air event. Keith Wicks has put together a fun-filled week of painting in Sonoma Valley with a great group of artists." See more on his website.

Keith Wicks, founder of Sonoma Plein Air, was the very first Artists' Choice Award winner. He's got a beautiful new website filled with art, and a link to a wonderful story about his paintings of Sonoma's Mike the Bread Baker, whose oven is pictures at left. You'll enjoy reading it!

Want to see more about Artists' Choice Award winners? Look here.
Want to receive an invitation to attend the Sonoma Plein Air Gala? Contact us!

Thank you, Transcendence Theatre Company! Discounted tickets for Sonoma Plein Air fans!

July 15, 2018

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Focus on the Women Painters of Sonoma Plein Air, Part #8

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When we asked Susie Hyer to tell us what she loved about being a plein air painter, she responded, "the lifestyle we have is basically traveling around to paint in awesome places, meeting amazing people, experiencing the outdoors and studying nature in all kinds of weather glorious and dramatic. What could be better than that?"

Susie has been drawing and painting since she was a child. “I remember drawing a pair of ceramic flamingos my mother used to keep on her dining room table when I was four years old," she says. “I knew from that moment I would be an artist when I grew up.”

She's come a long way, after attending art programs at Moravian College, The Baum School of Art, and the University of West Florida in the 1970s. Susie continues to study and expand her repertoire and abilities, attending the Art Students League of Denver and participating in workshops whenever she can.

Her work has appeared in numerous galleries and national exhibitions, hangs in many private and corporate collections. She has been published in the celebrated books "Art of the National Parks: Historic Connections, Contemporary Interpretations," and “Landscapes of Colorado.” She has been a featured artist in Southwest Art, Fine Art Connoisseur, Plein Air and Art of the West Magazines.

Susie continues to challenge herself artistically, traveling to paint en plein air, and working from sketches and field studies in the studio. She teaches workshops and is an invited juror for local and national exhibits. Her work is represented by galleries along Colorado's Front Range and the Southwest. Visit her website to see more of her work.

She maintains a home, studio, and multiple gardens in Evergreen, CO where she lives with her husband, sometimes one or two grown children, a dog, two cats and numerous elk, deer, and other wildlife.

We are looking forward to seeing her new work at Sonoma Plein Air in September!

July 9, 2018

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Focus on the Women Painters of Sonoma Plein Air, Part #7

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Carolyn Hesse-Low tells us "it would be difficult to imagine going through life without trying to paint the beauty of it. Everywhere I look, there are gorgeous shapes put together into compelling compositions. When the light is just right, and the story unfolds, I can’t help but want to paint the scene. Once, while driving over the Grapevine on the I-5, the light was so amazing on the mountains that I stuck my camera out the window and grabbed a few shots, which I painted later in my studio. It’s best to be a passenger when a gorgeous scene races by at 70 mph!"

Carolyn’s work has appeared on the cover of PleinAir Magazine and has been featured in Southwest Art, American Art Collector, Fine Art Connoisseur and Art of the West magazines. She has been published in several books, including California Light: A Century of Landscapes, and Painting California: Seascapes and Beach Towns. Her work has received numerous awards, including Best of Show at San Luis Obispo Art Museum, the Medal of Honor at the National Arts Club, Best Studio Landscape from Plein Air Salon, Publisher’s Choice Award from PleinAir Magazine, and Award of Excellence at Plein Air Southwest Salon. Her work is represented in national and international collections.

We are delighted to welcome Carolyn back to Sonoma Plein Air. Her landscapes, figures and marine subjects capture the changing mood and rugged beauty of what she sees. Her paintings have been shown in over 80 museum exhibitions and in countless galleries and art institutions. Visit her website, and see her work in person on Sonoma Plaza, on Saturday, September 15.

It's time to mark your calendar:

Tuesday, September 11, 5-7 pm
QUICK DRAW on Sonoma Plaza
Watch the artists paint and acquire your favorites on the spot!

Saturday, September 15, 10 am-4 pm
ART SHOW & SALE on Sonoma Plaza
Artist demonstrations, live music and hands-on art activities for children.

PURCHASE A PAINTING AND SUPPORT ART EDUCATION!

July 2, 2018

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Focus on the Women Painters of Sonoma Plein Air, Part #6

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One of our most popular plein air artists dropped out of the Sonoma Plein Air Festival last year. While we missed her, she had a good reason - and we are thrilled to welcome her back.

Aimee Erickson, a previous Artists' Choice Award winner, was all set to participate in our 15th Anniversary Festival when she got the call that presented a once-in-a-lifetime painting opportunity. She was invited to participate in a cultural exchange to teach and paint in a small village is Russia, many hours from Moscow. And, the dates conflicted with Sonoma Plein Air.

All in all, 2017 was a very good year for Portland, Oregon-based Erickson. She won Best in Show at Laguna Plein Air Invitational, Best of Show and Museum Purchase Award at Pacific Northwest Plein Air and Best of Show and Clyde Aspevig Judge's Choice Awards at Olmsted Plein Air. See her work on her website and don't miss her work in September!

June 24, 2018

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Focus on the Women Painters of Sonoma Plein Air, Part #5

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Self taught with nature as her classroom and the great masters her teachers, Romona Youngquist knew at age four that painting would be her calling. Today you’ll find her paintings as far away as Germany, London and Manhattan. Her works have been published in the premier art magazines including Southwest Art and American Art Collector. We are pleased to welcome her to her first Sonoma Plein Air Festival.

Romona likes to trick the eye, using muted colors and blurred contours painted
as softly as a whisper. But in reality her canvasses are a war zone and her
weapons of choice-sand paper, ends of brushes, rags and anything
unconventional she can employ in battle. She knows the skirmish is over when
the painting has the power to speak directly to the viewer. When an onlooker can not resist stepping into her world full of atmosphere, mystery and a mood that takes you back to days gone by, she knows the battle has been won.

Her studio is tucked away in the lush Red Hills of Dundee, Oregon, overlooking vineyards. Much of her inspiration comes from her surroundings. We look forward to seeing her interpretations of the landscapes of the Bay Area! Have a look at Romona's website for more paintings, and be sure to come to the Sonoma Plein Air Festival September 15th in Sonoma Plaza.

Patron opportunities for the annual Sonoma Plein Air Gala are available on our website. Any remaining tickets will be available this summer.

June 17, 2018

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Focus on the Women Painters of Sonoma Plein Air, Part #4

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Alison Menke's journey into landscape painting began in 2011 when a three week solitary trip to Colorado turned into a five-month foray into plein air. She painted every day, camped in national parks, sold studies out of the trunk of her car, and created over 150 paintings. Here's how she tells it:

"In 2010 I graduated with a degree in Art and Art History and after walking off that University of Maryland stage with my diploma I had no real solid idea as to how an artist moves forward in the world. In reflecting upon my art education I remembered back to one of my first painting experiences. It was a plein air workshop I took in high school and one of favorite painting memories. After finishing my studies at Maryland I was determined to start painting outside! So, I asked my Dad if I could take his car out to Denver (mine wasn't going to make the trip) for just three weeks to paint! He hesitated a moment, but let me hit the road with my paints in-tow knowing that I'd be staying with my big brother. My three week stint turned into five months of travelling out west painting everyday. I camped with artists, made good friends, sold paintings out of the trunk of my car, made smart decisions, and learned so much about myself and my love for painting. Since then I've continued with my passion as nearly all my work is done outside. The spontaneity of plein air, the freshness of the loose paint and nature make it all worth it! Needless to say, my Dad was happy to get his car and his daughter back!"

Alison has spent the past three years attending plein air competitions and festivals. Between the plein air seasons of 2016 and 2017 she attended 26 competitions along the eastern seaboard and was honored with 26 awards. Her successes have garnered attention from local newspapers, Plein Air Magazine, and various publications. See her work on her website and welcome this first timer to Sonoma Plein Air!

Patron opportunities for the annual Sonoma Plein Air Gala are available on our website. Any remaining tickets will be available this summer.

June 10, 2018

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Focus on the Women Painters of Sonoma Plein Air, Part #3

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Tara Will burst on the Sonoma Plein Air scene last year with her vibrant pastel landscapes, and had us looking at the Sonoma landscape in fresh, new ways.

Tara grew up watching the creative hands of her grandmother, and had a love of creating from a young age. She attended Mount Saint Mary’s University in Maryland double majoring in Art and Philosophy. She started plein air painting about 5 years ago, going to quick draws and hoping one day to be on the “juried side” of these events she loved so much. She has since participated in several national plein air competitions painting from East Coast to West.

Tara enjoys painting quickly, trying to capture the essence of the space using bold colors and strong marks. She predominantly works in pastels, but occasionally ventures into oils. See more of her work on her website.

In 2017, Tara achieved her Master Circle Status with the International Association of Pastel Societies. She is a Signature Member of Maryland Pastel Society and an Associate Member of Pastel Society of America. Tara has been featured in the Pastel Journal’s Magazine Pastel 100 in both 2017 and 2018. Tara recently exhibited work at the Mall Galleries in London for the annual Pastel Society of the UK juried exhibition. She currently resides in Maryland with her husband and four small children.

June 3, 2018

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Focus on the Women Painters of Sonoma Plein Air, Part #2

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Kim VanDerHoek has been a popular participant at Sonoma Plein Air for several years. She began painting en Plein Air because it combined her love of being outside and creating art.

"I enjoy the challenges Plein Air painting poses. Dealing with the weather, changing light and other hurdles of outdoor painting has forced me to learn to make decisions quickly, to paint with commitment and above all, to have a plan for each painting."

Kim feels that her Plein Air work has, in turn, strengthened her studio paintings. "It is my hope that when you view my painting from across the room you can easily see what the subject is, then, upon closer inspection, you find yourself lost in the brushwork."

"In the last few years my style of painting has evolved from a traditional plein air approach to a more contemporary style. As a result, creating each piece takes twice as long. The first painting session is just about getting the information on canvas as accurately as possible, the second session is where I get myself into a lot of trouble and make an absolute mess of everything and in the final session I have to bring everything into focus and balance loose brushwork with having a certain amount of accuracy and detail. Good paintings don't just happen, they take a lot of thought and time."

See Kim's new work on her website and be sure to welcome her back to the Sonoma Plein Air Festival, on the plaza Saturday, September 15, 2018.

After graduating with a fine arts degree in illustration from the California College of the Arts, Kim worked as a graphic designer for 11 years. She left the design field to pursue a career as a full-time painter. Kim is an Artist member of the California Art Club (CAC), a member of the American Women Artists and was a signature member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association (LPAPA). She is a "Gamblin Workshop Instructor" and a highly sought after painting instructor who teaches weekly classes in Orange County, California.

Become a patron of our annual gala! Information on advance ticket opportunities can be found here.

The gala will be held under the stars at Buena Vista Winery on Friday, September 14th.

May 28, 2018

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Focus on the Women Painters of Sonoma Plein Air, Part #1

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Is there a "Eureka!" moment when an artist realizes they have found their path? For artist Camille Przewodek, it was during a trip to Cape Cod, where she met the teacher who would forever change the way she sees.

When Camille Przewodek met Henry Hensche (1899-1992), who had been assistant instructor to famed American Impressionist painter and teacher Charles Hawthorne (1872-1930), she immediately recognized the rare opportunity of studying with a true master. Hensche was the catalyst that made Przewodek learn to see and paint color in a whole new way.

“Ever since studying with him, and after experimenting with his methods all these years, I’m still amazed at how complex, and yet simple, the approach is,” she says. “Its foundation is using color to express form as seen in a particular light key, and not bringing formulas into your work.”

Przewodek’s painting style, which quickly became distinctive for its rich saturated color and luscious oil paint, caught the attention of numerous clients during the decade when she worked as a commercial illustrator.

“I was one of the few illustrators who didn’t look like an illustrator. I painted in a way that sought the beauty of the subject,” she says. When she landed accounts such as Alfa Romeo and Chateau St. Jean, Przewodek knew it was her commitment to directly observing and capturing the light effects of nature that made the difference. “Most illustrators would just go to the site, get their reference photos, and then go back to their studio to do a slick illustration. I would go to the sites and stay for hours or days doing color studies from life, and developing several paintings on location, then deciding with the art director which best served the project.”

That same working method influences the various painting series she continues to do today—the themes that emerge (gardens, wetlands, figures captured in the landscape) all have in common her passion for capturing the beauty of the light. You can see the full range on her website and learn more about her technique on her blog.

She is honored to be a member of a group of Hensche's former students who have reorganized the Cape School of Art as a non-profit organization dedicated to passing on the principles and enduring influence of Hensche, and his mentor Hawthorne, in educating artists and the public in the perception and use of color and light in representational painting.

Przewodek regularly serves as an entry and awards judge for painting competitions and events. She is also a much sought after instructor who annually teaches painting workshops across the country, and offers regular weekly classes on location and in her studio in Petaluma, California. She has been a regularly featured, on-stage demonstrator at Plein Air Magazine’s Annual Plein Air Convention, as well as an invited instructor, lecturer, and panelist on the Hensche-Hawthorne approach to seeing and painting color at American Artist Magazine’s Weekend with the Masters.

Camille Przewodek is a Master Signature Member of American Women Artists, Signature Member of the Laguna Plein Air Painters and Oil Painters of America, and Artist Member of the Salmagundi Club and the California Art Club.

A veteran of Laguna Plein Air and Easton Plein Air, it has been several years since Camille has participated in Sonoma Plein Air and we know festival goers will be delighted to see her work - again or for the first time.

SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, September 15, 2018
Sonoma Plein Air Festival

May 17, 2018

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Young artists are expressing themselves

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Preparations are underway for Sonoma Plein Air 2018, with festival and gala committees hard at work to bring you a week to remember in September! In upcoming newsletters we will feature our professional artists, whose talent, coupled with the enthusiasm of art collectors and patrons make our programs possible. Our goal is to bring art experiences to our youth, and we'd like to share what's happening in the programs we support.

We've been spending time with our young artists.

Our all-volunteer organization takes an active role to ensure that Sonoma Valley public schools and community arts organizations are putting their grants to good use. Each board member is a liaison to one or more of our grant recipients, and we are pleased to report that art is alive and well - thanks to our generous donors! Here are some of the wonderful programs happening now.

Students at El Verano School designed and installed a mosaic tile mural that beautifies a planter on campus.

Clay wheel classes for young students at the Sonoma Community Center inspired young potters.

Flowery Elementary School students created block prints while learning about new cultures through the Art in Action curriculum.

Sonoma Valley Seniors Kohana Bowman and Karen Torres created a senior project as a gift of art to alma mater Sassarini Elementary School by creating two murals.

The A.R.T.S. program at Sonoma Valley Museum of Art brought 4th graders in to create book art and mounted an exhibition in the museum.

Our young students are expressing themselves through art - and we invite you to share in the joy by becoming a patron of our annual gala! Information on advance ticket opportunities can be found here.

The gala will be held under the stars at Buena Vista Winery on Friday, September 14th.

April 30, 2018

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Hello Friends of Sonoma Plein Air,

We are excited about art of all kinds! Plans are well underway for the 2018 Sonoma Plein Air Festival. The jury has deliberated and several artists will be participating for the first time. Scroll down to see all the artists' names with a link to preview their work.

Our first community art show, A Valley of Talent, was held in mid-April and was a resounding success. The event at the Sonoma Community Center drew crowds all evening to see and buy art from 42 local artists who presented their works in photography, collage, and painting. Abstract and non-representational art, figurative, still life and landscapes were all featured. We plan to hold more community art events in the future, and we welcome ideas from potential participants and volunteers. S end us an email and let us know your thoughts!

SPAF Foundation Board Members have been visiting the elementary schools to see how the 2017 grants are being put into action. Here are young artists from Sassarini Elementary School learning watercolor techniques. Over the next few months, we will share more images and stories from the classrooms of Sonoma Valley schools. The students are inspired, the teachers are inspiring and magic happens because of our generous patrons and art collectors!

The Sonoma Valley High School Art Department invites the local community to their annual art show. See the next generation of Sonoma artists at the reception and awards ceremony, Thursday, May 3, at 6-7 pm, at Sonoma Valley High School, at 20000 Broadway in Sonoma. We are proud to fund art in the high school!

Save the date for the Sonoma Plein Air Gala which will be held under the stars at Buena Vista Winery. To secure your place at the party, consider becoming a patron or sponsor of this year's festival! For more information, please send us an email. Individual tickets to the gala, if available, will be sold in July and August.

The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation facilitates artists, art organizations, public schools and the community to create, appreciate and understand the importance of visual arts. We seek to engage youth through art education, foster artistic excellence, nurture a vibrant local arts community and bring people together for experiences that inspire a creative exchange of ideas.

Introducing the artists for 2018! Click HERE for images of their work.

Simon Addyman
Scott Anderson
Eric Bowman
Richard Boyer
Doug Clarke
Kevin Courter
Aimee Erickson
Mark Farina
Phillipe Gandiol
John Guernsey
Carolyn Hesse-Low
Debra Huse
Susie Hyer

Eric Jacobsen
Mike Kowalski
Paul Kratter
Greg LaRock
Richard Lindenberg
Sergio Lopez
Carolyn Lord
Wayne McKenzie
Alison Menke
Clark Mitchell
Niles Nordquist
Camille Przewodek

Robin Purcell
Robert Sandidge
David Savellano
Dan Schultz
Brian Sindler
Robert Steele
Melanie Thompson
Kim VanderHoek
Keith Wicks
Tara Will
Romona Youngquist
Dennis Ziemienski

April 8, 2018

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The upcoming weekend in Sonoma is filled with art - at the Sonoma Community Center, Arts Guild of Sonoma and the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art - all venues whose programs are supported through generous donations to the Sonoma Plein Air Foundation. Please join us at these special events to celebrate community and artistic expression!

Friday the 13th is a lucky day for art lovers!

We are delighted to announce Sonoma Plein Air's first community art event - A Valley of Talent - featuring original work by local artists in the mediums of drawing, painting, printmaking, photography and collage. Discover the work of 42 artists - from established professionals to talented amateurs. All work is for sale - with 40% of the proceeds going to support youth art education in Sonoma Valley. ONE NIGHT ONLY!

A Valley of Talent
Friday, April 13 5 pm - 8 pm
Exhibit, Art Sale and Wine Reception
Sonoma Community Center
276 E. Napa Street, Sonoma

While you are at the Community Center, head upstairs to Gallery 212 and see the "Barbie: Rescued and Reinvented" exhibit of 100 cast off Barbies rescued from local thrift stores dressed in tiny trash couture by local artists. The dolls will be available for sale. Admission $1.

This is a companion exhibit to the Trashion Fashion Show, held Saturday April 14 at Sonoma Veteran's Memorial Hall. Trashion Fashion is a runway show for outrageous, beautiful, theatrical and humorous fashions created by artists, ecologists and dumpster divas from recycled materials. More information and tickets.

Small But Grand!

Friday, April 13 - 5pm - 7pm Reception
The Arts Guild of Sonoma
140 E. Napa Street, Sonoma

The A.R.T.S. Student Exhibition, funded by Sonoma Plein Air Foundation, brings 4th and 5th grade students to the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art for visits, studio activities, art instruction and a special exhibit. Be sure to see the exhibit of book art in the A.R.T.S. Student Exhibition.

COMING SOON IN THIS NEWSLETTER!
We will announce the professional artists who have been selected for the
2018 Sonoma Plein Air Festival

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November 22, 2017

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Thanksgiving wishes to you and yours

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Sonoma Vineyard, Tom Soltesz

The landscape has changed for a generation

The wildfires of October came and lingered, and the after-effects are still with us. Homes were lost, homes were spared. Mountains burned, vineyards provided fire breaks. Rainfall has encouraged blades of green grass to poke through charred ground. The community came together #sonomastrong and continues to demonstrate that "the love in the air is thicker than the smoke."

Should we have a Sonoma Plein Air in 2018? Will the artists come? Will the collectors buy art? Last week, our Board of Directors made that decision.

The 15th anniversary of Sonoma Plein Air was a celebration like no other

Sonoma Plein Air 2017 was our best year ever. The weather was remarkable, the roster of artists was exceptional, our gala event at Buena Vista Winery was a great party, and the Festival in the Plaza was busy with art lovers all day long!

Thanks to the generosity of donors and sponsors, artists and art collectors, we will present $138,650 in grants for the current school year to the public elementary schools, charter schools, middle schools, high schools, special education programs, and four community art organizations in Sonoma Valley.

Sonoma kids need art now more than ever

For years, we've talked about the importance of art in education as a way to open minds, express creativity and innovation and build self-esteem. But the recent fires remind us that art also heals - as students express in images the feelings for which they may not be able to express in words. As Pablo Picasso said, “Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

Let's work together to make it happen in 2018

On this Thanksgiving, we are grateful beyond measure. We know there will continue to be many ways to contribute to the well-being of Sonoma Valley.

Thank you for donating to organizations offering direct support to those who lost so much in the fires.

Thank you for supporting the local businesses, restaurants, wineries and lodgings that fuel our local economy.

Thank you for supporting Sonoma Plein Air. We are counting on you join us in September 2018 for our 16th year - save the dates for a special Gala event on September 14th and the Festival on the Plaza September 15.

With all our best wishes,
The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation

P.S. If you missed this video at our gala - take a few moments to learn about the importance of Sonoma Plein Air directly from the students and teachers.

Juxtaposition, Greg LaRock,
Sonoma Plein Air 2017 Artists' Choice Award Winner

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September 14, 2017

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Enjoy this preview of work from the 35 Sonoma Plein Air artists. Please join us Saturday to see the new works and support art education for Sonoma Valley youth.

Eric Bowman

Kevin Courter

Danny Griego

Debra Huse

Eric Jacobsen

Richard Lindenberg

Terry Miura

Mikyoung Osburn

Devin Roberts

Tom Soltesz

Tara Will

Paul Youngman

Pati Bruce

Mark Farina

George Handrahan

Susie Hyer

Paul Kratter

Wayne McKenzie

Niles Nordquist

Anette Power

Robert Sandidge

Robert Steele

Jim Wodark

Dennis Ziemienski

Hiu Lai Chong

Philippe Gandiol

Carolyn Hesse-Low

Peggy Immel

Greg LaRock

Clark Mitchell

Michael Obermeyer

Robin Purcell

David Savellano

Brian Sindler

Keith Wicks

Kim VanDerHoek

LIVE ARTIST DEMONSTRATION SCHEDULE:
11:00 am Mark Farina - Oil Painting
1:30 pm David Savellano - Watercolor Painting
3:00 pm Kim VanDerHoek - Oil Painting

September 11, 2017

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Watch the artists paint in the Plaza

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Sonoma Shoppers, by Michael Obermeyer

This is where you want to be on Tuesday.

The Farmer's Market in the Plaza is the happening place in Sonoma on Tuesday nights - but tomorrow, it's going to be even better! Many of the artists participating in Sonoma Plein Air Week will be setting up their easels in and around the Plaza and painting against the clock - in QUICK DRAW!

The clock starts at 5 pm and at 6:30 pm all paintings will be put on display for sale - FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED!

Here are some photos from past Quick Draw events. Artists quick studies are often available for a significantly lower price - and 40% of the purchase price is your direct donation to supporting art education for the kids of Sonoma Valley. Be at the southeast quadrant of the Plaza at 6:30 pm