Fish Creek, Wis. (July 17, 2023) – Peninsula School of Art (PenArt), 3900 County Road F, Fish Creek, presents the 17th Annual Door County Plein Air Festival with free and ticketed events July 23 through July 29; and an online exhibition and sale July 30 through August 13, 2023.
Plein Air painting has long been a tradition in Door County, beginning with the early artist communities established on the peninsula in the early 1920s by professors from the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. They heard of Door County’s natural beauty and knew it would be the perfect place for a summer art school. While little evidence of those initial artist communities remains, what has endured is the desire to experience painting and drawing in the Door County landscape.
That’s why each July, Peninsula School of Art brings together over 30 of the finest painters in the country – each with their own painting styles and unique perspectives – to honor the tradition of outdoor painting through the week-long Door County Plein Air Festival.
Driving through the peninsula, you’ll see these painters peppered along the Door County landscape with their easels, paints, and canvas — capturing how the summer light frames and enhances the fields, waters, and the little-known, untouched corners of the peninsula.
This year’s event features 33 invited artists from across the U.S. The invitations process typically begins in October of the prior year and artists are selected by a committee of artists and collectors. 2022 winners Hector Acuna, Christine Lashley, Danny Griego and Olena Babek will all be returning in 2023. The event also features 11 new-to-Door-County artists.
Beginning July 23, 2023, the festival offers visitors many opportunities to witness the completion of a masterwork from start to finish. Artists will be painting on location at designated sites throughout the week, including at many local galleries. A complete schedule of locations and events can be found on PenArt’s website at www.PeninsulaSchoolofArt.org.
On Tuesday, July 25, all of the invited artists will participate in a sunset paint out in Sister Bay. At dusk, they will bring their completed paintings to the lawn of the Dorr Hotel for public viewing. One of the festival highlights is the Quick Paint competition, on Saturday, July 29 in Fish Creek. Featured artist’s paintings are completed in less than two hours and are sold via silent auction on the Great Lawn on the PenArt campus. Kids can join in the fun too, with pick-up painting kits available on a first come-first serve basis at PenArt.
While most events are free and open to the public, Palette Pass ticket holders have exclusive access to the Collector’s Preview on Friday, July 28. This is the first chance to view and purchase works created during the festival. The Collector’s Preview will also feature food, beverages and live music on the PenArt campus. There are a limited number of Palette Passes available.
The artists’ events close Saturday, July 29 with the free Open Door Celebration. Visitors can view fresh works in the gallery, tour the campus and take home a piece of Door County on canvas. All works are for sale. All works will also be online for viewing and sale.
Ticket and event information is available online or by phone. Event guide books are available for pick up at PenArt.
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