In the Open Air

The California Art Club invites submissions for "In the Open Air," an Excellence in Traditional Fine Art Competition exploring the rich tradition of plein air painting and the fleeting beauty of the natural world directly from observation. The exhibition will celebrate light, atmosphere, and the immediacy of working outdoors, from sweeping coastlines to remote wilderness.

Open to current California Art Club members including Associate Artists, Student Artists, Artists, Out-of-State Artists, Mentorship Program Artists, and Signature Artists. Artwork must be created in the last three years and submitted in contemporary-traditional methods. Eligible mediums include oil, watercolor, pastel, gouache, acrylic, drawings in charcoal, color pencil or graphite, and sculptures in permanent materials such as bronze, marble, terra cotta, fiberglass, resin, or wood. Giclees, prints, photography, digital works, and digitally altered works will not be accepted. NFS works are now eligible for consideration.

Submissions are due Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Entry fee is $35 for one work, with $8 per additional entry. There is no entry limit. Images must be jpg format and under 4 MB, with a minimum of 1920 pixels on the longest side at 72 dpi. Upload artwork through Online Juried Shows. Artists will be notified via email on or around Monday, August 24, 2026. The exhibition runs December 4, 2026, through March 1, 2027, on the CAC Virtual Gallery at californiaartclub.org. Awards include First Place ($1,000), Second Place ($500), Third Place ($250), Honorable Mention ($100), and Special Recognition Awards ($50) for Student Artist, Mentorship Program, and Associate Artist Members. Approximately 30-40 works of exceptional artistic merit will receive visibility including exhibition on the CAC website, featured social media posts, and newsletter features. Commission split is 60% Artist; 40% CAC. If a work sells, the collector assumes shipping costs and works must be framed. For questions, contact Eire Hoke at 626/583-9009 or [email protected].