Sedona, Az (October 9, 2014) – Sedona Az is known as a national art mecca. From all corners artists assemble bringing with them unique talents and perspectives in the field of visual expression. If you are looking for Sedona art up close and personal created in the present tense, come to the Uptown Sedona “Main Street Paint Out” featuring 30 “Plein Air” artists in action, Saturday, Oct. 18, between 1:30 and 4:00 p.m.
En plein air is a French expression meaning “in the open air,” and refers to the act of painting outdoors with the artist’s subject in full view. Plein air artists capture the spirit and essence of a landscape or subject by incorporating natural light, color and movement into their works.
All of the thirty nationally and regionally-recognized Plein Air artists participating in the Sedona Plein Air Festival will have their easels set up on the sidewalks and plazas along “Main Street” (SR 89A) in Uptown. Their challenge is to create a painting from start to finish within the two and a half hour “Paint Out”. Observers will see Sedona through the artists’ eyes as they express their vision in different styles and a variety of media. Their subject can be the landscape, people, buildings, foliage, vehicles or anything along Main Street that captures the imagination.
This free event kicks-off the Sedona Arts Center’s 10th Annual Sedona Plein Air Festival, an eight day celebration of outdoor painting. The invited artists must be award-winning plein air artists with regional/national recognition and current representation in a fine art gallery. This year, eleven of the artists are from Arizona and the remaining nineteen are coming from California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington DC and Wisconsin. Each year approximately thirty percent of the artists are new to the Festival and this year is no exception – there are 11 new artists this year, both from Arizona and nine of the other states represented here.
As so aptly described by Sedona Arts Center, ““Sedona Plein Air Festival pays homage to the spirit and innovation of the great French Impressionists whose paintings were based on the belief that “you should trust your eyes” to capture the beauty that surrounds you. As with the old masters, contemporary plein-air artists paint from life in the out-of-doors (en plein air), capturing moments in time that reflect the ever-changing colors, light and shadows, temperature and shifting elements.
The art form requires that artists have stamina, focus, and the ability to be completely absorbed in the work regardless of what Mother Nature is throwing at them. There is no setting more perfect than Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon in late October to find vibrant, unexpected scenic beauty. It is truly an artist’s paradise. Thirty award-winning artists, selected from among the best of the best, have accepted invitations to participate in this showcase. They are coming from all over the United States to spend eight days painting en plein air, and to share with observers their incredible talent and unique experiences with this challenging art form.”
The “Main Street Paint Out” is sponsored by Sedona Main Street Program to bring together these Plein Air artists, so the public can witness all of them during their creative process in one place at the same time.You can watch as the paintings develop plus meet and interact with the artists at work all along the “Main Street”, a fun, unique and accessible place.
Once the Paint Out time limit is reached, the artists quickly frame their works of art and bring them to the Sedona Arts Center front patio, at the north end of Main Street (SR 89A at the corner of Art Barn Road), 
forfuzzy the first opportunity to purchase this year’s Plein Air Festival creations. The sale takes place from 4:00 to 5:00 pm that day. It is then that you can see all the completed works, witness the presentation of two awards by Guerrilla Painter and Gamblin Oils, respectively, and purchase your favorite painting before the paint is even dry!
The event then rolls into the opening reception in the Sedona Arts Center’s Art Barn from 5:00–7:00 p.m., open to the public and complete with complimentary wine offerings. Each artist brings 6 completed paintings from their own region to display in the Art Barn’s Special Exhibition Gallery and adjoining Theatre Studio. These works will be for sale throughout the week. Artists will periodically rehang their space with new work created during their stay, which will be designated with a “Wet Paint” sticker beside it. The exhibition event is thus constantly evolving and open 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. daily throughout the week.
Come early on Saturday, October 18th, to enjoy lunch at one of the wonderful restaurants in Uptown Sedona, browse and shop the many unique stores and galleries, and take in the scenic vistas. Then stay into the evening to enjoy the Festival’s opening reception followed by dinner and drinks in the area. Make it a special celebration of autumn in Sedona with friends and family. Parking is available along N. State Route 89A, in the Sedona Free Public Parking lot at 260 Schnebly Road and Sedona Arts Center parking lot on Art Barn Road.
The 10th Annual Sedona Plein Air Festival includes activities open to the public during the entire upcoming week, many of which are free to attend. This year the festival theme is art & wine, with Paint-Outs and special events at regional vineyards and tasting rooms. For a complete schedule, view the event website at www.SedonaPleinAirFestival.com. Details are also available by calling Sedona Arts Center (928) 282-3809 or (888) 954-4442.
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