Registration is now open for our 3rd annual Desert Ridge Plein Air Painting Festival on March 7, 2020.

Register now to guarantee your spot! $1600 in awards and a free youth workshop. There is no cost to register and participate.

Register here: https://saaca.formstack.com/forms/desert_ridge_plein_air_painting_festival_2020

Youth Registration here: https://saaca.formstack.com/forms/desert_ridge_plein_air_painting_youth_registration2020

Learn more about the event: https://www.saaca.org/desertridgepleinair.html

Desert Ridge Plein Air Festival
When: Saturday, March 7, 2020, 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM 
Where: Desert Ridge Marketplace (Loop 101 & Tatum Boulevard Phoenix, AZ) 21001 N. Tatum Blvd. Phoenix, AZ 85050 

There is no registration fee to participate.

Presented by Desert Ridge Marketplace, a Vestar property, and the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance, the festival provides a unique opportunity for artists to create original painted artworks live and in the open air, capturing the essence of a vibrant retail and community space while inviting shoppers to experience the sight, sound, and even texture of the plein air process. 25 artists will compete in the painting competition with $1,600 in cash prizes and a chance to become part of the official Desert Ridge Plein Air Gallery.  

The festival competition is open to any artist who paints using the Plein Air technique in oil, watercolor, acrylic, or pastel. Plein Air (open air) paintings are executed outdoors from real life, as opposed to being painted from photographs in a studio. Both artist and subject must be outdoors, and photographs are NOT used. Contemporary plein air artists capture moments in time that reflect the ever- changing colors, light and shadows, temperature and shifting elements. This art form requires stamina, focus and the ability to be completely absorbed in their work regardless of their surroundings. 

YOUTH PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP

The FREE youth workshop is a component of the Desert Ridge Plein Air Festival (9:30 AM - 5 PM) which will offer a unique opportunity for young, student artists to create original painted artworks live and in the open air, while being provided hands-on guidance from professional artist instructors. The Youth Plein Air participants will have the opportunity to have their pieces judged, compete for three cash prizes, and have the opportunity to become part of the official Desert Ridge Plein Air Gallery!

The Youth Plein Air workshop is festival competition is open to youth artists age 10-17, painting using the Plein Air technique in oil, watercolor, acrylic, or pastel. To ensure each participant is given the necessary guidance and one-on-one attention the Youth Plein Air Workshop will be limited to 20 participants maximum. Registrations are accepted on a first come, first served basis, pre-registration is encouraged. 

Contact: Cait Huble (602) 697-0056 Cait@SAACA.org