December 4, 2019
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We couldn't do it without you!
The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation has distributed the 2019-2020 school year grants totaling $172,362 dollars.
We are able to provide arts education funds directly to schools and the community organizations that provide instruction for school-age children in Sonoma Valley through the generous donations of our patrons, supporters and art collectors who purchase art at the annual Sonoma Plein Air Festival.
Here are some of the projects that will be funded this year:
  • Middle school and high school field trips to the Legion of Honor, de Young Museum and di Rosa Preserve
  • Media Arts program at Sonoma Valley High School
  • Art in Action curriculum at Flowery, Dunbar and Prestwood Elementary Schools
  • Maker Room at Sassarini Elementary School
  • Sculpture and Mosaics at El Verano Elementary School
  • Art programs at Woodland Star Charter School
  • "Art Rewards the Student" at Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
  • After School programs at Art Escape
  • Sculpture Art Installation at Teen Services
  • Middle and high school "Small but Grand" show at Arts Guild
  • Art@The Farmer's Market with the Sonoma Community Center
Our all volunteer board works throughout the year to make Sonoma Plein Air happen. A special thank you to Mandy Weltman who has led the board for the past few years, inspiring us and connecting us to our mission! As she steps down from this role, we are grateful that one of our newest board members, Jennifer Parr, will join forces with long-time board member and past president Cathy Good to share the leadership of the organization.
We are getting ready for 2020!

The 18th annual Sonoma Plein Air Festival will bring 36 juried artists to the region for one week to paint, show and sell their work to benefit youth art education in Sonoma Valley. Artists are encouraged to apply between January 2 and February 28. All the information and application will be posted exclusively at JuriedArtServices.com.
 
Would you like to volunteer with the Sonoma Plein Air Foundation? Please e-mail us and let us know of your interests and abilities. We'd love to hear from 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.
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September 9, 2019
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September 9, 2019
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The most anticipated plein air art event in the Bay Area starts today! Our 35 nationally acclaimed artists arrived at host homes, checked in this morning and now they are off painting!

Watch for them from the coast to the valley, at wineries, ranches, regional parks and protected Sonoma Land Trust sites. But the best place to watch them paint up close is on and around the Sonoma Plaza tomorrow beginning at 5 pm during the Farmer's Market. At 7 pm all paintings will be brought to the southeast corner of the Plaza (First Street East and East Napa Street) placed on easels and priced for immediate sale.

On Friday, the artists will bring what they consider their best painting of the week for judging by their peers and silent auction at our festive gala, which is the largest fundraiser of the year to support art education for the youth of Sonoma Valley. A few tickets remain, but sales will close tomorrow. Don't miss this!

The main event is Saturday on the Plaza, and the weather promises to be great for art collectors. Remember 40% of every painting sale is a donation that goes directly to the Sonoma Plein Air Foundation (you will receive a receipt for a tax deduction) to fund art education for public school children in Sonoma Valley.

We look forward to seeing you!
2019 Festival Schedule
Visit our website for details

Tuesday, September 10, 5-7 pm
QUICK DRAW - Sonoma Plaza
Watch the artists paint and acquire your favorites on the spot!

Friday, September 13, 5:30 pm
The GALA EVENT

Saturday, September 14, 10 am-4 pm
ART SHOW & SALE - Sonoma Plaza
Artist demonstrations, live music and hands-on art activities for children.

Artist Demonstrations
11 am - Tara Will, Pastel
1 pm - Alison Leigh Menke, Oil Painting
2:30 pm - Philippe Gandiol, Oil Painting
 

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.
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July 15, 2019
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Meet the Artists of 2019
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Eric Bowman is a two-time Artists' Choice Award winner at Sonoma Plein Air, which means his work was voted "best in show" by a jury of his peers. In 2012, Eric's moonlight image captivated, and in 2019, he captured early autumn in a timeless stand of eucalyptus.
Eric Bowman is a Southern California native, transplanted to northwest Oregon.

He has exhibited in some of the country's most prestigious galleries and museums including the Autry Museum of the American West, the Briscoe Western Art Museum, the Gilcrease Museum, the Kaiping Art Museum (China), the Academy Art Museum, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles and the Salmagundi Club in New York city. Eric is a Signature Member of the California Art Club and the American Impressionist Society.

Eric’s paintings are found in private and corporate collections throughout the U.S. as well as England, Australia, China, Canada and Mexico. He had been profiled in feature articles with Southwest Art, Art of the West, Western Art Collector, International Artist, Pratique Des Arts (France), Fine Art Connoisseur and Plein Air Magazines.  

In September, come see more of Eric Bowman's work painted on location in Sonoma, and add your choice to your art collection!
It's time to mark your calendar:

Tuesday, September 10, 5-7 pm
QUICK DRAW on Sonoma Plaza
Watch the artists paint and acquire your favorites on the spot!

Friday, October 13, 5:30 pm
The GALA EVENT
Click here for details!

Saturday, September 14, 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!
 

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.
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May 14, 2019
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Hello Friends of Sonoma Plein Air,

Plans are well underway for the 2019 Sonoma Plein Air Festival. The jury has completed their work and are pleased to announce this year's line-up. Several artists will be participating for the first time. Scroll down to see all the artist's names with a link to preview their work.
Save the date for the Sonoma Plein Air Gala at Cornerstone Sonoma. Now is the time to secure your place at the party, by becoming a patron or sponsor of this year's festival! Visit our website for more details. Individual tickets to the gala, if available, will be sold in July and August.
Sonoma Plein Air exhibit open at Bartholomew Estate Winery
Something exciting is happening on the east side of Sonoma. Bartholomew Estate Winery opened its doors in late April, and has invited the Sonoma Plein Air Foundation to create a rotating exhibit of Sonoma Plein Air artists in a gallery space adjacent to BEW's tasting room. All works are for sale and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the art programs of our local schools. The exhibit is open from 11 am to 4:30 pm daily and will be rotated on a quarterly basis. For more information about the show and the beautiful and historic Bartholomew property, please visit BEW's website.
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 Sonoma Plein Air Festival Artists for 2019!
Click HERE for images of their work.
Eric Bowman
Richard Boyer
Allen Brockbank
Hiu Lai Chong
Kevin Courter
Aimee Erickson
Mark Farina
Eric Fei Guan
Robert Frank
Phillipe Gandiol
Debra Huse
Eric Jacobsen
Mike Kowalski
Paul Kratter
Greg LaRock
Richard Lindenberg
Sergio Lopez
Carolyn Lord
Wayne McKenzie
Alison Menke
Niles Nordquist
D.K. Palacek
Anton Pavlenko
Robert Sandidge
David Savellano
Alex Schaefer
Brian Sindler
Lisa Skelly
Carol Tarzier
Kim VanderHoek
Patty Voje
Stewart White
Keith Wicks
Tara Will
Jim Wodark
Dennis Ziemienski
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for beautiful art images as we lead up to the Festival!
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March 31, 2019
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by Valley of Talent Artist Becky Rowe
THE VALLEY OF TALENT SHOW
We are delighted to present the 2nd annual Valley of Talent Show this Thursday, April 4th, from5 pm - 8 pm at the Sonoma Community Center. The jurors have made their selections and you will find the list of participating artists at the bottom of this newsletter. We will be the first stop on the Sonoma Art Walk, which is sponsored by the Sonoma Chamber of Commerce.

The Art Walk Opening Reception is being held at the Sonoma Community Center, from 5 pm till 5:30 pm. We will continue pouring wine and serving light bites through the evening so we encourage you to make the rounds! You can download the walking map, or pick one up at the Community Center.
While you are in the building, visit the BARBIE show! Sonoma Community Center will kick-off Trashion Fashion Week with "BARBIE: Reclaimed & Reinvented," an exhibit and silent auction in Gallery 212. See dozens of cast-off Barbies rescued and repurposed into tiny trash couture works of art by local artists.
Just up the street at the Arts Guild of Sonoma, be sure to see the annual Small But Grand Show. Each year with a grant from the Sonoma Plein Air Foundation, the Arts Guild provides canvases to students at Sonoma Valley schools. Small But Grand is the exhibit of the work created. Budding artists from Sonoma Valley High School and Adele Harrison Middle School have this wonderful venue to display all sell their work, with all proceeds going directly to the individual students!

This annual exhibition is a great opportunity to see how your contributions to youth art in Sonoma are put into action, and you may discover a piece of art from the next generation to add to your collection!

NEWS FROM THE SCHOOLS

Sassarini Elementary School's Organization of Parents and Teachers are planning a special night on May 11th - a Paint & Sip Night fundraiser for Sassarini's enrichment programs held at the Lodge at Sonoma

The ticket includes all supplies needed to paint Van Gogh's Cypresses with local artist and teacher, Kelly O., light appetizers, local wine and refreshments. Space is limited, so if you've ever wanted to try your hand at painting - get your tickets soon!

2019 Valley of Talent Artists


Robert Benson * Christine Hansen * Christine Zychowski * Loretta Loy-Adair * Patrica Carter * Sara Radke * Ann Young * Kirk Hinshaw * Susan Schroeder * Maureen Baker * Ann Iverson * Julia Pozsgai * Ellen McBride * Michael Biscoe * Lorraine Buckner * Lynnette Bourne * Carol Marcus * Howard Klee * Jim Rosso * Winifred Crisp-Nemiroff * Will Chubb * David Sheppard * Russ Johnson * Glenna Yee * Kathleen Truax * Terrence Dalton * Paul Goguen * Debbie Tancik * Sarah Stanley * Janeane Sanborn * Sherborn Sanborn *  Sally Rosenblatt * Sophie Acheson * Shawn Smith * Patrica Driscoll * Jennifer La Pierre * Renate Kulprian * Pat Meier-Johnson * Becky Rowe * Barbara White-Perry * Keith Wicks
We hope to see you Thursday!
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March 3, 2019
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Get ready for art!
Jurying begins next week to select the artists who will be invited to participate in September 9-14 Sonoma Plein Air Festival, and...
The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation is delighted to announce that our second Valley of Talent art show will be held on Thursday, April 4th from 5-8 pm at the Sonoma Community Center. This is part of the Sonoma Art Walk, and all works will be for sale. Come have a glass of wine and see the art of your talented friends and neighbors! Artists who live or work in the Sonoma Valley (from Sonoma through Oakmont) can apply to show their paintings, drawings, photography, collage and sculpture. The deadline is this Friday, March 8th. Read all the details here.
Art in Action at Sonoma Valley Schools
Elementary school students are learning about artist Paul Klee who was associated with Expressionist, Cubist and Surrealist art. Just like young students, Klee experimented in many different media and often combined them into one work. He used canvas, burlap, muslin, linen, gauze, cardboard, metal foils, fabric, wallpaper, and newsprint. These portrait collages were created by students at Dunbar School.
At Sassarini Elementary School, students practiced shading and color gradients - just in time to make some special Valentine's Day hearts!
Inika is in the 7th grade at Adele Harrison Middle School, where programs and supplies are funded by Sonoma Plein Air.

She says, "Every two weeks we do something different, like paintings, drawings, or clay. I really like it because its fun and there's not a lot of pressure to do it right. You just follow the instructions and create!"

P.S. She's been known to take her sketchbook home over the weekends to keep on creating.
Students from Creekside High School take a field trip to visit SFMOMA.
Would you like to volunteer with the Sonoma Plein Air Foundation? Please e-mail us and let us know of your interests and abilities. We'd love to hear from 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.
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December 29, 2018
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Thank you for your support!
The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation has distributed the 2018-19 school year grants totaling $147.830. You can read about this years grants here. Since 2002, the generous supporters of Sonoma Plein Air have contributed $1.45 million to provide art education for children in Sonoma Valley. Here's where the money goes:
Without you, art would be missing in the lives of Sonoma Valley students!
A year-end donation can help us provide mini-grants to teachers, mid-school year supply needs and more. If you would like to contribute any amount - we will make sure it gets put to good use! Click here to donate online.
What happens behind the scenes at the Sonoma Plein Air Foundation?
The Sonoma Plein Air Foundation works year-round to ensure that the children of Sonoma Valley receive art education.

Planning for the Sonoma Plein Air Festival begins in January, with a call to artists to apply. The jury meets in early March, and artists are notified of their selection by mid-March.
Our all-volunteer Board of Directors actively engages with the schools and community arts organizations throughout the year. Each board member is a liaison to one or more schools to help understand the specific needs of the school community and to observe the art programs we fund. Our grant committee manages a rigorous process that begins in the spring, ensuring that grant requests are submitted before the school year begins. 

We start planning the Festival week in late winter - doing everything from housing for the artists, to building display easels, securing volunteers to work at the art show and sale. A gala committee envisions and plans a spectacular dinner party and art auction for patrons of Sonoma Plein Air. (Hint: 2019 promises to bring a new twist to this time-honored gala tradition!)

During the spring and summer, we promote the artists and the events in social media, this newsletter, through local newspaper and magazine articles and advertising. 

Then, we have whirlwind week in September, with artists joining us from all over the country to paint, show and sell their art in Sonoma Plaza.
 
After the events, we tally up the funds, review the grant requests and distribute the funds to the schools and community arts organizations. And the process begins again!
Would you like to volunteer with the Sonoma Plein Air Foundation? Please e-mail us and let us know of your interests and abilities. We'd love to hear from 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.
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September 9, 2018
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Festival Week starts tomorrow when the artists arrive and begin to paint! Get a preview of the events and artist demonstration schedule here, and look below for some special opportunities available to festival attendees.

BLANK CANVAS

Commission an 18 x 24  painting by your favorite artist
  1. Choose your favorite artist
  2. Discuss the subject matter with the artist
  3. Hang and enjoy your beautiful painting
Please know:
  • Price is determined by the artist.
  • Painting can be vertical or horizontal.
  • Painting will be unframed.
  • Painting must be completed within one year.
  • Buyer pays for shipping.
40% of your purchase is a tax-deductible donation to the Sonoma Plein Air Foundation.

AVAILABLE Saturday, September 15 at the Art Show and Sale on Sonoma Plaza.
ART WITH A MASTER - an intimate painting class with Dennis Ziemienski

Enjoy a rare opportunity to paint alongside and learn from internationally renowned artist and Sonoma icon, Dennis Ziemienski. A limited number of painters will be welcomed to a beautiful home and garden in Sonoma to paint and enjoy fine wine and nibbles.
  • Experience hands-on, personalized instruction and learn or improve techniques
  • All levels of painters welcome, from beginner to expert
  • Bring a piece already in progress to receive guidance or begin your masterpiece on-site
  • Location: a beautiful private farm in Sonoma, with opportunities to paint landscape and still life. Directions will be sent to participants
  • Class will be held Saturday, October 20
  • Limited to 12 participants
  • $300 per person
​AVAILABLE for purchase NOW on our website and on Tuesday, September 11 at Quick Draw and Saturday, September 15 at the Art Show and Sale on the Plaza.
Personalized Cooking Class and Dinner 
​at Williams-Sonoma
 
An evening for 12 people at Chuck Williams’s landmark location with a unique, hands-on culinary experience.

This is an “after hours” event so your group will have the store for the evening. You will get started with a short tour of this special location and beautiful gardens. A private chef will then lead a custom cooking class featuring a
salad, pasta and dessert showcasing local finds that bring Sonoma Wine Country to life.Enjoy your meal in the outdoor gardens or at the marble cooktop inside the store!

Gather your group and make a bid for this Silent Auction Item (opening bid $2400) AVAILABLE at the Art Show and Sale on the Plaza, Saturday, September 15.
Sonoma Plein Air Raffle

#1  Guys Shop and Lunch:  Scott Lydell certificate - $100.00, Lunch at Maya - $50.00, bottle of red wine. Value:  $180.00
 
#2  Gals Shopping Day at the Plaza:  I-Elle - $50.00, Bear Moon - $25.00,
Angelique - $50.00, Bossa Nova - $100.00, Artifax - $50.00 Value:  $275.00
 
#3  Sonoma-Loeb Tasting:  Bottle of wine, Seated tasting for four in their private area, cheese board.Value:  $250.00
 
#4  Sonoma Plaza Afternoon:  Pangloss seated tasting for four, with cheeses and charcuterie - $160.00, Pick up your specialty item from LOVE Sonoma after the tasting. Estimated Value:  $235.00
 
#5  Café Mac:  One hour of tech support/ computer instruction Value:  $150.00
 
#6  Hair and Home:  Salsa Trading Company, antique blue and white canisters - $125.00, J. James silk scarf, Estella Hair Salon shampoo and blow dry. Estimated Value:  $275.00
 
#7  Art Easel from Fine Line Sonoma 
​Value:  $225.00
 
#8  Fitness Fun:  Pure Barre, one month unlimited membership - $199.00, Anytime Fitness, one month unlimited membership - $59.00
Value:  $260.00
 

Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20 and will be available for sale on Tuesday, September 11 at Quick Draw and Saturday, September 15 at the Art Show and Sale on the Plaza.
LAST CALL FOR GALA TICKETS!
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.
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.
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September 2, 2018
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Have you seen the Keith Wicks show at BUMP?
Festival Week is almost here! Get a preview of the events and artist demonstration schedule here, and take a look at some special opportunities available to festival attendees here!

Meet Dan Schultz

When we asked Dan Schultz to tell us what he loved about being a plein air painter, he responded, "Plein air painting has been a vital part of my development as an artist. It has helped me simplify my technique and improve my color recognition while teaching me to find inspiration all around me. Also, I’ve learned to duck and cover when the wind suddenly blows my painting umbrella toward my face! I’m thinking about marketing the Plein Air Face Mask…. Seriously though, plein air painting is a joyous response to the wonder of being outside in nature. I find it a privilege to be able to respond to the beauty of God’s creation in this way. "
Welcome Dan to Sonoma Plein Air at the festival on Saturday, September 15. Follow him on Facebook and Instagram and see more on his website.
More Perils of Plein Air, by Richard Boyer

I was with a good friend painting in the small town of “Les Beux de Provence”.   We had set up in a nice quiet alleyway and began the morning session with a 12x16. The wind was blowing slightly so I had my nice new black sweater on to keep of the chills away. I had the classic French easel at that time with the pallet set up in front of me, below the painting which makes for a nice short distance from mixing to actually application. 

Southern France has what they call the “Mistrals." a strong wind that often blows from inland out to the Mediterranean and sometimes has been known to drive people mad. After an hour or so of painting those winds decided to pick up. Most easels as any artist will tell you tend to act much like a sail on a boat in strong gusts, forcing the would be painter to grabbing the side of it to keep the thing from flying away. Such was the case with us, my hand was going down too often to grab the wooden easel from tipping over. That's when the winds picked up even more and before I could do anything my pallet was airborne and flew up onto my chest. The easel had blown over and I stood there with a wooden pallet stuck to my black sweater. I slowly peeled off the pallet to see all the cadmium yellows, oranges and reds impregnated into the wool. I've had the experience of getting a little dab of cadmium color on clothing and found out the chances of getting it out of the material is basically nill. In my case I had medallion sized globs on my chest. The only recourse was to take off the sweater and throw it in the garbage can. Thus ending the painting session for the day, the winds won the day and the artist lost.
We think Richard will clean up nicely for Sonoma Plein Air! Visit his website to see more of his work, and come see him at the Festival on the Plaza on Saturday, September 15th, 10 am - 4 pm.
Don't miss Sonoma Plein Air Founder Keith Wicks' one-man show at BUMP Wine Cellars, 521 Broadway in Sonoma. It will be exhibited through Sunday September 9, then again September 19-30. During the week of the Plein Air Festival, an array of studio works from the Festival artists will be shown. BUMP is open Thursday-Sunday 12-6 pm.
LAST CHANCE FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT'S SHOW!
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.
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August 26, 2018
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We are delighted to announce that Sonoma Plein Air Founder Keith Wicks, an internationally recognized artist (and a Sonoma Treasure Artist!), will have a solo show in his hometown in the weeks before and after the Sonoma Plein Air Festival. A masterful painter with the soul of an old master, Keith is renowned for his ability to capture the essence of the moment with clarity and intensity rarely seen in contemporary works today.
Keith paints on location throughout the world, under the vast Sonoma sky and in his Sonoma studio. An award-winning artist, Keith’s work has appeared in galleries and publications throughout the country.
In 2002, Keith founded the Sonoma Plein Air Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing funding for art education in Sonoma Valley public schools. A portion of each sale from the LUMINOSITY exhibit will be donated to the Foundation.
You are invited to the Artist's Reception
Saturday, September 1 from 2-5 pm

521 Broadway, Sonoma
The show is open Thursday-Sunday
August 30-September 9 & September 16-30

The Sonoma Plein Air Artists Studio Works show will be exhibited September 11-14
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.
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August 20, 2018
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Only three weeks to the festival!
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It's back to school for Sonoma Valley, and soon the students will begin their art classes - all thanks to the generous donors, art collectors and artists of Sonoma Plein Air! Without the money raised through our art sales and donations, young students would simply not have the array of supplies, instruction and life-affirming experiences of making art! We hope to see you at the festival, or if you can't join us, consider making a donation to support art education.
The Perils of Plein Air, by 2018 Sonoma Plein Air artist Clark Mitchell
A good painting buddy recently posted on Facebook an oil painting she’d just done of a waterfall. Intrigued, I asked where the stream is and in response received an enthusiastic, “Let’s go!” This was early spring right after several days of hard rain. Accessible or too muddy?  Too far to hike? Do I have time today? Of course we decided to go.
 
Our destination was Cataract Falls, within Mt. Tamalpais watershed in Marin County.  Few people had ventured out this alternating cloudy/sunny day so parking was easy. The hike was fairly short, though quite steep up and down numerous tall stone steps, especially while wearing my overloaded backpack and, carrying by hand, my pastel box and easel. I once again vowed to pare down my plein air supplies! Next time!
 
First we took a number of photos, checked out various painting sites, hiked a bit further up the trail to see if there might be even better vantage points. I saw very little even ground on which to set up an easel, everything being wooded, steeply sloped, rocky and slippery; the rain-swollen cascade was pounding down the canyon at me, the sound deafening with the roar of falling water. Absolutely spectacular and overwhelming!
 
Once I’d set up my easel in a tight cubby, branches on my shoulder, sanded paper and pastels at the ready, I found myself shaking and dizzy. I was so excited by what was before me and my legs felt like jello from the up and down hike. There was no way I could proceed without doing brief grounding exercises just to calm down enough to steady my hand and start making the myriad decisions necessary.
 
Blissfully, I was lost in the process in minutes and within an hour or so came up with an almost abstract painting that expresses some of the drama and chaos of the setting.

We are looking forward to seeing what great locations Clark finds during Sonoma Plein Air! In the meantime, take a look at his website.
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.
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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.
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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!
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.
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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!
 
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.
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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!
 

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.
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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!