Suffolk, Virginia 23434

Phone: 757-925-0448                            

Email: suffolkpleinair@gmail.com

Suffolk Plein Air Festival

Tuesday, September 9 –Saturday, September 13, 2025

Call for Artists

The Suffolk Plein Air Festival committee invites you to apply to participate in the 2025 Suffolk Plein Air Festival competition and wet paint exhibit/sale.    The Wet Painting Sale and Awards Soiree will be held on Friday, September 12, 2025, from 6:00 pm-9:00 pm.   Up to five (5) works will be accepted for display and judging in the artist’s preferred medium.  The Suffolk Plein Air Festival is hosted by the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, the Suffolk Art League, and Suffolk Tourism.

Works are for sale unless specified otherwise by the artist.  There is a 40% commission on all sales.  All items must remain on display until the end of the show unless other arrangements have been made.  The application fee is $45, non-refundable.

Standards:

     •       Up to five (5) works produced during the event will be displayed and judged.  

•       Two-dimensional works must be framed or gallery-wrapped, and ready to hang with wire and screw eyes.  

•       Participation is open to only those artists selected by the judge to participate in the festival. 

•       Submitting the OnlineJuriedShows application indicates your intention to participate, if selected.

•       Follow the instructions in OnlineJuriedShows to submit three of your most representative pieces to be reviewed for consideration as a participant. Log in here and click Enter This Show to begin your submissions

•       Images submitted to OnlineJuriedShows must be jpg and under 4 mb. For best results, image files should be at least 1920 pixels on the longest side @ 72 dpi. For help with your entries, contact onlinejuriedshows@gmail.com or 888-666-1351

•       Accepted artists must submit a 150 or fewer word biography, written in the 3^rd person, to include art education, awards, etc.  The artist’s vision statement may also be included. This will be requested in the acceptance letter.

QuickDraw and Taste of Suffolk event Saturday, September 13, 2025:

The Festival QuickDraw event is open to artists at all levels and ages 10 and above.  Prior registration is encouraged, but not required.  On-site registration will be open to participate as well.  The application fee to participate is $10, non-refundable.  A 20% commission will be deducted from sales made during the QuickDraw.

Important Dates:

Application Deadline:  Saturday, March 1, 2025

Notification to selected participants:  Friday, April 11, 2025

Artists’ check-in: Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Artists’ Luncheon: Wednesday, September 10, 2025 from 12:00 – 2:00pm

Painting Days: Tuesday, September 19 - Friday, September 12, 2025

Judging of new Plein Air artwork: Friday, September 12, 2025

Wet Painting Sale and Awards Soiree: Friday, September 12, 2025

Quick Draw and Taste of Suffolk event: Saturday, September 13, 2025

Unsold Artwork Pick-up: Saturday, September 13, 2025 from 3:30pm to 5pm

Artists’ payments sent: late September/early October, 2025

All artwork must be removed by 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 13, 2025 unless arrangements have been made in advance with Festival Coordinator by emailing:  suffolkpleinair@gmail.com

ACCEPTED ARTISTS INSTRUCTIONS AND LABELS

118 Bosley Ave.

Suffolk, Virginia 23434 

Phone: 757-925-0448                        

Email: suffolkpleinair@gmail.com

Suffolk Plein Air Festival

Tuesday, September 9 –Saturday, September 13, 2025

The Suffolk Plein Air Festival committee is excited to have you as a selected artist for the 2025 Suffolk Plein Air Festival competition and wet paint sale.    The Awards Reception and Wet Paint Sale will be at the Suffolk Art Gallery on Friday, September 12, 2025 from 6pm-9:30pm.   Up to five (5) works will be accepted for display and judging in the artist’s preferred medium.  The Suffolk Plein Air Festival is hosted by the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, the Suffolk Art League, and Suffolk Tourism.

Works are for sale unless specified otherwise by the artist.  There is a 40% commission on all sales.  All items must remain on display until the end of the show at the Suffolk Art Gallery (Saturday, September 13, 2025). 

Standards:

•       Up to five (5) works produced during the event will be displayed and judged.  

•       Two-dimensional works must be framed or gallery-wrapped, and ready to hang with wire and screw eyes.   

•       Participation is open to only those artists selected by the judge to participate in the festival.

•       Please identify each piece with the labels provided on page 3.  

•       Submitting the OnlineJuriedShows.com application indicates your intention to participate.

QuickDraw and Taste of Suffolk event Saturday, September 13, 2025: 

The Festival QuickDraw event is open to artists of all levels and ages.  Prior registration is encouraged, but not required.  Onsite registration will be open to participate as well beginning at 11 a.m.  Painting is from noon-2 p.m.  Awards will be announced between 2:30-3 p.m.  The application fee to participate is $10, non-refundable.  A 20% commission will be deducted from sales made during the QuickDraw.

Important Dates: 

Deadline to apply for Housing:  May 15, 2024.  Contact Sharon Slate at slate67@verizon.net to reserve a room with a local family.

Artists’ check-in: Tuesday, September 9, 2025 8 a.m.-noon at the Suffolk Art Gallery, 118 Bosley Ave., Suffolk, VA 23434

Artists’ Luncheon: Thursday, September 11, 2025 from 12-2 pm, Hubbard Property, details to come.

Plein Air Workshop: Thursday, September 11 (Optional) This workshop is open to the public and is not a requirement for participating festival artists. This workshop will be held at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 110 Finney Ave. Suffolk, VA 23434. Time TBD.

Painting Days: Tuesday, September 9 - Friday, September 12, 2025

Deadline for Plein Air artwork: Friday, September 12^h, 2025 before 1pm.  Suffolk Art Gallery

Judging of new Plein Air artwork: Friday, September 12, 2025 (4-5:30pm) Suffolk Art Gallery

Awards Reception and Wet Pain Sale: Friday, September 12, 2025 from 6pm-9:30pm Suffolk Art Gallery

Quick Draw and Taste of Suffolk event: Saturday, September 13, 2025 (Main Street)

Unsold Artwork Pick-up: Saturday, September 13, from 3:30 pm to 5pm at the Suffolk Art Gallery.

Artists’ payments sent: Early October 2025 from Wet Paint Sale

All artwork for the Suffolk Plein Air Wet Paint Sale Exhibit must be removed from the Suffolk no later than Saturday, September 13^th  between 3:30-5:00 pm.

2025 Suffolk Plein Air Festival

Instructions:  Please check in at the Suffolk Art Gallery, 118 Bosley Ave. Suffolk, VA 23434 between 8 am and noon. No early arrivals.

The information on this page will be used to type labels for each piece, so please write legibly.  We will also use this information to process payments at the end of the festival, so please be sure to include your complete address.

ARTIST’S NAME:______________________________________________________________

ARTIST’S ADDRESS:___________________________________________________________

CITY:_____________________________________STATE:_______________ZIP:__________

ARTIST’S CELLPHONE NUMBER:_______________________________________________

Suffolk Plein Air Festival labels

(attach one label to each piece; please write legibly!)