Prospectus
SONOMA PLEIN AIR 2023
21st Annual Plein Air Festival and Fine Art Invitational
September 11 - 16, 2023
Artist Choice Award 2022 Marc Anderson
Join us for a week of plein air painting in the beautiful wine country of Sonoma Valley. Venture beyond to San Francisco, Marin, and the Coast. This is a painters paradise; vineyards, rolling hills, mountains, ocean, San Francisco cityscapes and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.
Hosted by the Sonoma Plein Air Foundation, 40% of painting sales support art education in the Sonoma Valley public schools and community arts organizations.
Eligibility
Open to all artists 18 years and older.
Entry Form and Fee
The 2023 Sonoma Plein Air application will be available online from January 2 through February 28, 2023. Submission fee is $50 (nonrefundable) & includes 4 images. No biography is required.
Image Format
Each artist must submit 4 images of their Plein Air artwork in JPEG format, color space preferred format with a resolution of 300 PPI (max 4000 pixels on the longest side). If you have an Apple computer, please use only letters and numbers in your filename and only 1 (.) period. Each image should include the name of the painting. Arrange the images in the order in which you would like them to be viewed.
Help entering images, questions or concerns can be directed to support@jurying.net.
Entry Process
Sonoma Plein Air Festival is a blind juried exhibition consisting of 4-6 jurors. The panel will review all submitted applications and select 25 artists. Notification of selected artists will be sent vial email no later than March 20, 2023.
Artist agreement forms will be sent via email to those who have been accepted.
Festival Details
Artists must paint on location for at least 3 of the 5 days of the event. Artists are asked to paint a minimum of 8 paintings. All exhibited plein air work must be original, framed, wired, and available for sale. Artists will submit 1 finished piece created during the Festival Week for prize judging and silent auction sale at the Collectors Preview and Gala. (September 15, 2023). Artist Choice Award of $2000 will be chosen September 11th, prior to the Gala. Artists are invited to the Gala. (Guests of the artists will need to purchase a ticket).
Sales
The Sonoma Plein Air Festival will take place in the historic Sonoma Square on Saturday, September 16, 2023. The event is a fundraiser for the Sonoma Plein Air Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non profit, which provides funding for youth art education. Sales revenue will be collected by the Foundation, which will retain 40% of the sale price in support of its mission. Sales tax will be collected and payed by the Foundation. Payment to the artists for sold work will be mailed within 30 days of the event.
Promotion & Marketing
Sonoma Plein Air Foundation has a robust marketing program including social media, email newsletter and print advertising. Additional promotional opportunities will be outlined for accepted artists.
Housing & Transportation
Hosted housing for artists only will be available for 7 nights beginning Sunday, September 10, 2023 - Saturday, September 16, 2023. Artists are responsible for their own transportation.
Important Dates
February 28, 2023: Online application deadline.
March 20, 2023: Selected artists will be notified by email.
March 28, 2023: Selected artists confirm their participation.
September 11, 2023: Artist registration. Artist evening reception.
September 11 - 16, 2023: Festival Week.
September 15, 2023: Artist Choice Award & Gala.
September 16, 2023: Art Exhibition & Sale on Sonoma Square