Plein Air Festival

Location Map

View Detailed Interactive Location Document for more information.

Wayne Art Center 16th Annual Plein Air Festival Schedule of Events

We had a wonderful Artist Orientation and Canvas Stamping at the bucolic Berkeley Farm Sunday morning despite the weather. Thank you to all members who braved the cold and rain to help artists kick-off the week.

This morning our photographer, Brenda Carpenter, captured several artists painting at Kuerner’s Farm and Nancy arranged to have CBS Philly come film several artists in action in our Schmidt Garden. Please click on the link and enjoy the show! https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-wayne-plein-air-festival-is-now-underway-here-s-what-to-know/vi-BB1lUy4q

This year’s plein air heavy duty canvas aprons and embroidered caps are a hit with the artists. Several of you shared interest in purchasing this merchandise. Aprons, $35 and caps, $25 are on sale in the link! Come try one on!

Thanks to everyone who is housing artists and we are looking forward to having you at the various events this week and especially this Friday for the Preview & Sale.

Watch for more artists in action on Instagram and Facebook!

Rain, rain go away…

Artist Schedule

Sunday, May 5, 9-11am
Artist Welcome Breakfast, Registration, Stamping and Orientation: The 16th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival kicks off as 32 accepted artists arrive at Berkley Farm in Wayne (725 Brooke Road Wayne, PA 19087) to have your canvases, panels and sheets stamped and officially become part of the festival during this high-energy event.

Sunday, May 5 – Friday, May 10
16th Annual Wayne Plein Air Festival: Artists paint within 35 miles of Wayne.
Through the week, artists are encouraged to paint Wayne Art Center’s LOCAL TREASURES locations as noted in this guide. LOCAL TREASURES is the theme of Wayne Plein Air 2024.

Note: Saturday, May 4 – Tuesday, May 7
Community Paint Out: Community artists are also invited to paint en plein air throughout Wayne. Works will be displayed during the exhibition (May 11-June 22).

Monday, May 6, 6pm
Artists are invited to attend “Color Science that Artists Should Know “, a Lecture with Qiang Huang. Plein Air Artists receive complementary admission.

Wednesday, May 8, 5-7pm
Art Intake 1: Deliver your festival paintings to Wayne Art Center and exhibition installation begins! WAC and the 2024 Plein Air Committee will assist you as you register your framed paintings. A light dinner for artists will be provided.

Wednesday, May 8, after 8pm
Nocturne painting: Artists are encouraged to paint at area locations during the evening.

Thursday, May 9, 5-7pm
Art Intake 2: Bring your festival paintings to Wayne Art Center. A light dinner for artists will be provided.

Friday, May 10, dawn-11am
Artists are invited to create final festival paintings in and around Wayne this morning.

Friday, May 10, 10am-12pm
Final Morning Paintings Delivered: Deliver your final morning’s work to the art center where those pieces will be installed in advance of the gala event. A light lunch will be available for artists at WAC.

Friday, May 10, 6-10pm
Join Wayne Art Center for the Collectors’ Preview & Sale and Festival Awards Ceremony with Juror Jill Carver! Plein Air Artists are guests at this event. A single event ticket at a reduced rate of $125 (select the Young Friends Tickets) is available for one artist’s guest and may be purchased online or through the art center reception desk. Artists are asked to be at WAC at 5:45 for a group photo at 6pm. Additional tickets may be purchased as desired.

Plein Air 2024 Artist Demos

Still Life Painting with Qiang Huang
May 3 – May 4, 10am-4pm

Color Science that Artists Should Know Lecture with Qiang Huang
May 6, 6-7pm

Juror’s Talk and Demonstration with Jill Carver
May 11, 1pm

Aesthetic Design Tools for Landscape Painting with Jill Carver
May 13–May 15, 9am-4pm

Plein Air Demonstration with Michele Byrne
May 15, 5-7pm

Plein Air Demonstration with Fred Jackson
May 22, 5-7pm

Plein Air Demonstration with Mick McAndrews
May 29, 5-7pm

Plein Air Demonstration with Barbara Berry
June 1, 11am-1pm

Plein Air Demonstration with Elise Phillips
June 5, 5-7pm

Plein Air Demonstration with Stewart White
June 12, 5-7pm

When Painting Moved Outside: The Origins of Plein Air Painting with William Perthes
June 19, 6-7pm

Plein Air Demonstration with Beth Bathe
June 20, 5-7pm

Plein Air Complete Event Schedule

Friday, May 10, 6–10pm
Collectors’ Preview & Sale: This ticketed event offers collectors a first look and an early opportunity to purchase paintings from festival week. Attendees enjoy meeting artists and exploring your work. Juror Jill Carver presents the 2024 festival awards at this celebratory gala complete with jazz music and savory reception fare by Catering by Design.

Saturday, May 11, 1pm
Juror’s Lecture & Demostration with Jill Carver Join WAC’s 2024 Plein Air Juror Jill Carver to explore technique in oil paints at Wayne Art Center.

Sunday, May 12, 12-3 pm
Minis and Mimosas for Mom Celebrate Mother’s Day with Mom at WAC!

Monday, May 13 – Wednesday, May 15 10am-4pm Aesthetic Design Tools for Landscape Painting with Jill Carver Registered students participate in a three-day workshop with the 2024 Juror that explores how unity and variety create harmony in a painting.

Saturday, May 18 11am-12:30pm
Plein Air Pizza Box Workshop Families register online at wayneart.org to participate in their very own outdoor painting event.

Tuesday, June 11 6-8:30pm
French Burgundy Dinner and Wine Pairing with Patrick Gauthron Registered guests participate in a culinary event to celebrate Wayne Plein Air 2024.

Thursday, June 13 10am-2pm
Mary Cassatt at Work- Plein Air Docent Tour and Lunch Wayne Art Center enjoys a private docent tour and lunch at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Wednesday, June 19 6-7pm
When Painting Moved Outside: The Origins of Plein Air Painting with William Perthes William Perthes, the Bernard C. Watson Director of Adult Education at the Barnes Foundation, conducts a lecture on the history and practice of outdoor landscape painting.

Saturday, June 22 2-4pm
Closing Reception