A Wintertime Plein Air

2020 Utah Plein Air Competition 

The Brigham City Museum of Art & History presents its seventh annual Utah Plein Air competition open Saturday, January 11 through Saturday, March 28 with an awards ceremony on Saturday, February 22 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM. Plein Air competitions are community challenges for artists of any level to celebrate the beauty and wonder of the natural world. The spirit of plein air requires artists to paint their entries entirely “out in the open air”. Artists Natalie Shupe and Ron Harvey served as judges.

This wintertime plein air opportunity seeks to celebrate Utah in a season rarely captured through other plein air competitions. “It is good to open a plein air competition to all of Utah,” Shupe noted. “It makes it more inclusive of artists from around the state. There are few winter shows and this offers more opportunities. The snow picks up the reflection from the sideways light of the winter son. There are varieties of blue in the snow.” Harvey added that a feeling of presence is important to judging plein air works. “You want to feel the cold, the time of day, deep shadows and bright light,” he said. “But not too cold that you want to turn away from the painting.”

Competition was open to artists of all ages, backgrounds, skills, and experience. In keeping with the spirit of plein air competitions, artists have only a very short time in which to paint, frame, and submit their entries. The judges placed high value for pieces that produced strong design, defined focal points, balanced use of darks and lights, and a feeling of presence. Museum visitors are encouraged to keep these points in mind. Guided tours are available on Wednesdays at 11:30 AM and Thursdays at 3:00 PM, or at other times with advance notice.

Important Dates:

1/18/2020: Exhibition Opens

2/22/2020: Awards Ceremony 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM 

3/28/2020: Exhibition Closes