Prospectus

SONOMA PLEIN AIR 2024
22nd Annual Plein Air Festival and Fine Art Invitational

September 9 - 14, 2024

Artist Choice Award 2023  - Geoff Allen

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, Pacific ocean vistas, 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 Fee: 

The 2024 Sonoma Plein Air application will be available online January 3, 2024 through February 28, 2024. Submission fee is $50 (nonrefundable).  No biography is required. 

Image Format: 

Each artist must submit 4 images of their Plein Air artwork.  See the image specs for Juried Art Services here.

If using an Apple computer, please use only letters and numbers in your filename and only 1 (.) period.  After uploading the images to your portfolio, include a title. 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.

Selection Process: 

Sonoma Plein Air Festival is a blind jury exhibition consisting of 4 - 6 jurors.  The panel will review all submitted applications and select 25 artists.

Notification of selected artists will be sent via email no later than March 20, 2024.  Artist agreement contracts 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 during the week.  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

(Friday, September 13, 2024).  The Artist Choice Award, ($2000) will be chosen  by the assembled artists prior to the Gala.  All 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 14, 2024.  The event is a fundraiser for the Sonoma Plein Air

Foundation, a 501©(3) nonprofit, providing funding for youth art education.  Sales revenue will be collected by the Foundation, which will retain 40% of the sales price in support of our mission.  Sales tax will be collected and paid 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, newsletters, and print advertising.  Additional promotional opportunities will be outline for accepted artists.

Housing & Transportation: 

Hosted housing for artists only, will be available to 7 nights beginning Sunday, September 8, 2024 through Saturday, September 14, 2024.

Artists are responsible for their own transportation.

Important Dates:

February 28, 2024:  Online application deadline.

March 20, 2024:  Selected artists will be notified by email.

March 28, 2024:  Artists confirm their participation.

September 9 - 14, 2024:  Festival Week.

September 13, 2024:  Artist Choice Award and Gala.

September 14, 2024:  Art Exhibition & Sale located on the Sonoma Square.