2025 Boulder County Plein Air Festival

The 2025 Boulder County Plein Air Festival is open to all artists 18 years and older in the United States practicing plein air painting in any painting medium. Applicants must submit 5-10 JPEG images of original plein air artwork created entirely by the artist with no assistance or instruction, and created no later than 3 years prior to application. The non-refundable entry fee is $55.00 per artist.

Applications will be juried by a panel of practicing artists, teachers, collectors, and curators. Up to 25 artists will be selected to participate. Selected artists will be notified by email no later than February 19, 2025, and must confirm participation by March 3, 2025. Housing may be available for artists living more than two hours away. All artwork must be completed in Boulder County on stamped substrates during the official paint-out period between May 31st and June 5th, 2025, with a minimum of 90% finished in the field and 10% or less allowed for studio touch-up. Artists may submit up to five original works from the paint-out period for the show, and all submitted works must be offered for sale with a $400 minimum price. Artwork must be presentation-ready; unframed canvases must be at least 1-3/8 inches in depth with finished edges, and all work on paper or boards must be appropriately framed and wired for hanging.

An exhibition and sale will be hosted by Open Studios at the Armory Gallery in Boulder's NoBo Art District. An opening reception is scheduled for Friday, June 6th, from 6:00-9:00 pm during the art district's First Friday celebration. Artist voting for cash prize awards will take place at the opening based on the entire body of work displayed. Open Studios will retain a 40% commission from sales, with 60% going to the artist. Insurance is the responsibility of the artist.