Event Details
2024 will be the 16th Adirondack Plein Air Festival. Come spend a week in the historic village of Saranac Lake, located in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. Sponsored by Saranac Lake ArtWorks, a not-for-profit arts organization, we can offer the serene beauty and mountain landscapes which so influenced the Hudson River school painters in the 19th century. The Adirondack Park contains the largest wilderness areas east of the Mississippi, yet just an easy days drive from New York City and Boston..
There are 5 days of outdoor painting and the following special activities: a Nocturne Contest, the “Paint the Town” Silent Auction, a Special Preview Party, a Quick Draw Competition, and a huge, well-attended Show & Sale on Aug 16-17. 40 Artists will be selected to participate, along with 10 alternates in case of cancellations. In 2023 we set a new record of 101 paintings sold and took in nearly $58,000.
Awards Juror & Workshop Presenter: Valerie Craig (https://www.valeriecraig.com/). Known for her impressionist approach to color and light, Craig uses oil and watercolors to capture her subjects, including urban and rural landscapes, still-life, and sometimes figures in the landscape. She feels that her best expressions happen when she is on location where she can directly sense the mood and atmosphere of a particular scene. She travels and teaches workshops in the US, Ireland and France. She will conduct a plein air workshop in conjunction with this event on Aug 10-11.
Honors include: Best in Show, American Impressionist Society National Small Works Show; Award of Excellence, National Oil and Acrylic Best of America; Judges Award, Olmstead Plein Air and many more.
Eligibility: Registration is through OnlineJuriedShows and is open to all plein air painters nationwide, 18 years and older..
Fees: Registration is $40 and must be accompanied by the submission of 3 images, all plein air paintings, cropped, no frames. Entry fees are non-refundable.
For best results, images should be at least 1920 pixels on the longest side (minimum 800) @ 72 dpi. Image files must be jpg and under 4 mb. For help with your submissions, contact onlinejuriedshows@gmail.com or 888-666-1351
Jurors: There will be 3 selection jurors (to be determined), all accomplished plein air artists, preferably using different media and from different parts of the country.
Sales: All sales will be handled by Saranac Lake ArtWorks. A 35% commission will be applied to all sales, with the exception of the “Paint the Town” Silent Auction. Participating artists will be asked to donate a small, unframed painting for the auction and may choose to receive 50% of the final high bid, or donate 100% of it. Funds go to support the ArtWorks Developing Artist Mentor Program. Artists who sell “off the easel” are requested to submit their 35% commission via cash or check to Saranac Lake ArtWorks.
Checks for sales will be remitted within 2 weeks after the conclusion of the Show & Sale.
Workshop: Awards Juror Valerie Craig will present a 2 day plein air workshop on Aug 10-11 prior to the event. The cost will be $300, with a $50 deposit required. It is open to both artists accepted into the Festival as well as non-participants. Full details will be on the ArtWorks website.
Lodging/Transportation: A list of area motels, B&B’s, and vacation rentals can be found on the ArtWorks website. There are several campgrounds (with painting opportunities) nearby. More information about lower-cost housing and/or lodging with host families will be made available to accepted artists at a later time.
Artists must provide their won transportation to and from Saranac Lake, NY. The Adirondack Regional Airport serves the area, as well as the Burlington, VT and Albany, NY airports, both around 2 hours away. Contact us if you have travel questions. info@saranaclakeartworks.org
Awards: A total of over $5000 in awards will be given out, in cash and merchandise.
Timeline of Events
• Feb 1: Registration opens through OnlineJuriedShows. Log in on this page and click Enter This Show to begin your submissions
• Apr 15: Registration closes
• April 22: Notifications sent out that week. Results will be available in your OnlineJuriedShows artist profile
• May 22: Deadline to receive signed artist agreements
• Aug 12: Check-in and surface stamping 10 am-7 pm; painting may begin
• Aug 12: “Meet the Artists” Reception, 7 - 9 pm; nocturne painting encouraged
• Aug 13: “Paint the VIC” Day at the Paul Smith’s College VIC
• Aug 14: “Paint the Adirondacks” Day - artists choice, maps with suggested painting locations will be provided
• Aug 15: “Paint the Town” Day - artists paint in the historic Village of Saranac Lake and are requested to submit a small, unframed painting for the Silent Auction. There is also a festive “3rd Thursday ArtWalk: from 5-7:30 pm on Main St - artists are encouraged to set up and paint as visitors stroll Main St. to see other displays of arts and crafts and live music.
• Aug 16: 3 Framed Paintings due, to be juried for prizes, between 9 am - 1 pm, in the Town Hall Auditorium. The Saranac Lake Fish & Game Club will also be open starting at sunrise for artists to paint the Saranac River and mountain views. Jurying from 1 - 3 pm. Additional framed work may be added to display walls starting at 5 pm.
• Aug 16: Special Preview Party, 6 - 9 pm; tickets are $20/person (no charge for artists and 1 guest); Awards at 7:30 pm.
• Aug 17: Quick Draw Competition, downtown, 9 - 11 am; paintings due at Town Hall at 11:30 am
• Aug 17: Show & Sale, 12 - 5 pm, FREE admission. Lunch will be provided for artists.
Full event details will be provided to accepted artists well in advance of the event, will be on the Artworks website, and will also be in the packets of materials available at check-in.
Disclaimer/Legal: Upon acceptance, artists will be sent the agreement to participate and will need to sign and return it by May 22. By signing it artists give permission to Saranac Lake ArtWorks to use photos of you and your work for publicity and promotional purposes and accept the 35% commission on sales (not including the Silent Auction donation).
All event information will be posted on the Saranac Lake ArtWorks website:
https://saranaclakeartworks.org