NC Plein Air Art Festival Begins

New Bern Farmer's Market 421 S Front Street, New Bern, NC, United States

37 nationally acclaimed artists begin today to create a complete new body of artwork of New Bern, Beaufort and Oriental NC. Competing for awards totally $13,000, artists are free to paint throughout Craven, Pamlico, and Carteret counties.

Exhibition & Sales Gallery

New Bern Farmer's Market 421 S Front Street, New Bern, NC, United States

2024   DATES---OPEN DAILY MAY 13 - 19, 9 AM Closing Hours  May 13-17  8pm May 18 - 2-6:30 pm - Closed for judging , Collectors Preview and Sale (Ticketed) (5pm-6:30pm) REOPENS TO PUBLIC for AWARDS CEREMONY  May 18  6:30pm until Last look May 19, 8:30 pm - 1:00 pm   Event ends 1:00 pm Gallery Festival […]

Greg Barnes demonstrates pastels on the waterfront – Queen St at Front St – New Bern

Greg Barnes got his formal training at Wake Forest University, receiving a BFA in 1985. Following college, Greg entered a career path that included technical illustration, computer graphics, computer-based training, and multimedia programming. Throughout those years, Greg always kept his art supplies close at hand. In 2002 after 911, he and his family took a […]

Jill Banks demonstrates Historic Downtown New Bern’s Mitchell Hardware

Mitchell Hardware 215 Craven Street, New Bern

SPONSORED BY MITCHELL HARDWARE I strive to place you right by my side, in the middle of the action – by being there. During a recent trip to Key West, setting my easel up in the water captured the joy of playing in the surf. For another piece, peeking over a wall to paint helped […]

Vlad Duchev demonstrates a Nocturnal – Galley Marina – New Bern

Gallery Marina 300 E. Front Street, New Bern, NC, United States

The beauty of visual storytelling lies in its ability to provoke emotions and spark the viewer's imagination. In my work I try to encourage the viewers to find their own stories within my work, creating a connection that transcends the boundaries of the canvas. "The less is more..." we always say!

Fen Rascoe demonstrates painting activities – Oriental waterfront – Oriental

Oriental, NC 28571, USA Docks, Oriental, United States

Whether painting en plein air or in the studio, Rascoe strives to simplify his subject and composition into a non-rendered three dimensional tale that allows the viewer to actively jump in and participate in the story being told. He paints alla prima or wet on wet all in one session with oils, and his style […]

Mille Gosche demonstrates late morning light at Galley Marina – New Bern

Gallery Marina 300 E. Front Street, New Bern, NC, United States

Painting outdoors from life is a praise and a worship. To me it’s like breathing. I am drawn to simple spaces like open fields and the low country; sunshine and late afternoons.I love painting competitions because they keep me measured up and in tune with my fellow artists. Every little success, whether a good painting, […]

Russell Jewel demonstrates watercolor – Historic Architecture – Beaufort

Beaufort Historic Site 130 Turner Street, Beaufort, NC, United States

Russell Jewell is an internationally recognized plein air painter, published in multiple books and magazines such as: North Light’s Splash Series, The Best in Watercolor, Sketchbook Confidential II, The Artist Magazine, and Plein Air Magazine. Jewell is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society of America and the American Watercolor Society. […]

Rose Kennedy Demonstrates painting Historical Architecture around Tryon Palace

Tryon Palace, 529 S Front St, New Bern, NC 28562, USA 529 S Front St, New Bern, United States

Plein air painting is a joy for me, and makes my soul sing! I feel a spiritual connection with the landscape when out in nature capturing a scene. The challenge of getting the essence of a painting down quickly with shifting light patterns, weather changes and intrusive “no see ums” is a fulfilling experience that […]

Kirk Larsen demonstrates early evening lighting – Duck Creek Marina – New Bern

Duck Creek Marine Service, 699 Galloway Rd, New Bern, NC 28560, USA

Fascinated by each place offering endless inspiration he strives to capture the feel of each day, time and location. He often paints barefoot, dancing while creating. As racer of classic and modern sailboats, he’s especially passionate about subjects that include water. Painting is an opportunity to share with the viewer the "vibe" of the place […]

Jeff Steiner demonstrates watercolor Historic Architecture 300 Block BROAD STREET NEW BERN

New Bern, NC, USA New Bern, NC, United States

“How long does it take you to do a painting?” said the passerby. “About an hour” I say. If you really want to know, I started in 1966 sculpting with sticks and wire along Lake Zumbra, Victoria, MN. Jump ahead to 1976, University of Minnesota, paired with a semester at Tian Jin University in 1981 […]

Jennifer Holmes demonstrates late morning light – Duck Creek Marina – New Bern

Duck Creek Marine Service, 699 Galloway Rd, New Bern, NC 28560, USA

Through experiencing the natural world outdoors; I'm intent on painting the color, space, and abstracted shapes combined with composition, to create mood and excitement in the painting and the process. Painting in the traditions of outdoor painters of the early New England Plein Air Painters of Old Lyme, CT, and Rockport, MA, I paint on […]

Debra Howard demonstrates late afternoon lighting – River Walk – New Bern

New Bern, NC, USA New Bern, NC, United States

I lived and traveled on a 44' sailboat, for 27 years. I'm a USCG Licensed Captain. One of my favorite places to sail to was Oriental, Beaufort and New Bern, NC. I'm looking forward to painting this area. I now spend my summers on the Leelanau Peninsula on Lake Michigan and have won the Glen […]

Jim Rehak Demonstrates at Grand Marina – New Bern

New Bern Grand Marina, 101 Craven St, New Bern, NC 28560, USA 101 Craven Street, New Bern, NC, United States

Over time I've viewed my plein air painting excursions as an opportunity to work on my self. What better situation to practice moment to moment awareness ? We are continually shaped by the experiences that move through us. Painting allows us to share those experiences. An artist's response to nature, light and everything around us […]

John Eiseman demonstrates painting the Water Front – New Bern

New Bern, NC, USA New Bern, NC, United States

I had a long successful career in sales and marketing for the Paint and Coatings industry – I sold paint for a living. It paid for houses, cars, kid’s college and family times. I have always been frugal. Also, I have always painted on the weekends and evenings… sometimes to the chagrin of my wife […]

Durre Waseem demonstrates painting the costumed model – New Bern Historical Society Gardens – Pollock entrance

New Bern Historical Society Gardens - Pollock Street entrance Pollock Street, New Bern, NC

Growing up in a joint-family that loved to draw and paint, art became a part of my everyday life. So far I have seen three stages of my progress in art. Firstly, when right after my graduation I started teaching at the same university and learnt more from painting with my students than under my […]

Exhibition & Sales Gallery

New Bern Farmer's Market 421 S Front Street, New Bern, NC, United States

GALLERY CLOSED FOR JUDGING-(Ticketed Reception 5 PM-6:30 PM  - -REOPENS TO PUBLIC 6:30 PM Festival headquarters, and the NC Plein Air Art Festival Exhibition and Sales Gallery will be based at Historic New Bern’s Farmers Market, less than two blocks from Tryon Palace. Beginning Monday morning May 13, the Exhibition And Sales Gallery will open […]

Artists to Artists Forum #1 Hearing from the Jurors

New Bern Civic Theatre 414 Pollock Street, New Bern, North Carolina

Let's take the mystery out of the selection process. Hear from the Jurors on what and how they select. Panelists: Kippy Hammond, Invitational Juror, Shanna Kunz, Selection Juror, & James Richards Awards Juror What is in their mind What are they looking for What do they see that you might not see How much weight […]

Artists to Artists Forum #2

New Bern Civic Theatre 414 Pollock Street, New Bern, North Carolina

Featured Artists Panel Fen Rascoe, Russell Jewell, Durre Waseem, Kirk Larsen, John T Eiseman, Craig Reynolds, Greg Barnes, Lily Braff, Jeffrey Markowsky 3:00 -"The Next Step"  Q&A with our select panel of professional artists who have been where you are. What are the "next steps" to move your art forward. How to transition from a  purely […]

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