BOULDER PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL

Created in 2017, the Boulder Plein Air Festival (BPAF) strengthens the national reputation of our area as an arts destination. Plein Air artists from around the country apply to participate. Those selected by jury process come to paint and compete for notoriety, cash rewards and the opportunity to market and sell the art produced during the festival week.

These artists are pros. Each must produce a minimum of seven paintings during the week. In May, 2019, the artists really proved their mettle as they endured snow, sleet and rain, painting in the elements perched in trucks and cars, under umbrellas, in down coats and electric gloves – all to catch the splendor of Boulder County on canvas and paper. We are looking forward to producing the next Festival in June, 2021.

In the meantime, we will be hosting a variety of social distance-appropriate plein air paint outs. In May, The Dakota Plein Air Challenge brought a variety of artists to northwest Boulder to paint various views of the foothills. These works are on exhibit currently as a Window Gallery in the Dakota Ridge clubhouse at Laramie & Ralston. They can also be viewed and purchased in our online Shop. Use the button below to check them out: