2026 Plein Air in the Smokies
Prospectus
November 20, 2025 - Application open
January 25, 2026 - Applications due
February 20, 2026- Artists and alternates announced
September 19-26, 2026- Required participation event dates
Onlinejuriedshows.com Application fee: $40
Intro: Last year (2025) nineteen featured artists sold over $130K in original art with a take-home commission of 55% per artist. You are invited to apply to the Plein Air Smokies juried art event for 2026!
Dates: September 19-26, 2026
Overview: Up to Twenty Artists will participate in the week-long event where they will paint within The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and surrounding area. Hosted by The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, an official park partner and outdoor school inside the national park, artists will each have their own private bedroom and bath in cabins located in nearby Townsend, Tennessee. (This is not host-housing, it is shared with other artists)
2026 Judge: Lori Putnam
2026 Juror of Entries: Paul Kratter
Event Awards:
· Best of Show - $4000 plus Invitation to return in 2027 as Featured Artist
· Artists Choice Award for Body of Work - $4000
· Best Structure - $ 1500
· Best Use of Light - $1500
· Best Landscape - $1500
· Best Water - $1500
QuickDraw Awards:
· Featured Artists
o First Place - $600
o Second Place - $300
o Third Place - $100
· Open Division Artists
o First Place - $600 plus Invitation to return in 2027 as Featured Artist
o Second Place - $300
o Third Place - $100
Key Information:
· September 19-26, 2026 – Required Participation Event Dates (if you cannot stay the entire dates, do not apply)
· September 19, 6pm– Orientation. (If unattended, Artist is not eligible for awards)
· September 17-19: Three Pre-paint days (housing on your own). Artists are allowed to come during these days to paint in advance.
· Two specified times and areas will be assigned during the week for artists to demo.
· Thursday, September 24, 12-5pm: Framed and wired artwork turn-in
· Friday, September 25
o One on One morning session with local high school art students.
o 6pm - Patron’s Celebration, The District Gallery, Knoxville.
· Saturday morning, September 26
o Morning QuickDraw in Knoxville (attendance is required)
o 10am-4pm: Exhibit/Sale, The District Gallery, Knoxville. (Artwork stays hung until 4pm)
Key Painting Information:
· Artists will paint anywhere within the boundaries of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (and surrounding area*).
· Canvases must be blank at beginning of event. Toned is acceptable. No advanced stamping of canvases will take pace. Honor system in place.
· All work to be completed in the spirit of plein air.
· * A minimum of 50% of completed paintings must be done within the Great Smoky Mountain National Park boundaries
· Artists will paint/demo in two specified locations throughout the week
· Artists will choose TWO pieces for judging and the remaining pieces will also be made available for purchase at the Patron’s Celebration.
· All pieces must be framed and wired for hanging.
· No gallery wraps
· No Minimum or Maximum retail price.
· No Minimum size. Maximum Size – 432 square inches
· All artist work will be for sale with artist retaining 55%
· Artists must paint at Saturday morning quickdraw event
· All artists agree to stay through Saturday exhibit (September 26) at 4pm.
· Unsold paintings must be removed by artist at close of Exhibit on Saturday, September 26.
· No sales may take place during the event apart from coordination with event.
Entry Information:
· To apply, upload 3 plein air paintings to OnlineJuriedShows. Log in and click Enter This Show to begin, or click Create New Account to create your OnlineJuriedShows account.
· Images must be jpg and under 4 mb
· For best results, images should be at least 1920 pixels on the longest side @ 72 dpi
· For help with your submissions, contact onlinejuriedshows@gmail.com or 888-666-1351