Come to Telluride in late June and early July, and you are likely to bump into artists all over town.  The Telluride Plein Air festival, sponsored by the Sheridan Arts Foundation, draws artists from around the country to paint, exhibit, and sell paintings of Telluride and the surrounding area.  It celebrates not only the art of painting, but the practice of painting outside and capturing the beauty that surrounds us.

In addition to observing some of the nation's top Plein Air artists at work, locals and tourists alike enjoy watching our 90 minute quick draw competition on Tuesday, followed by the Gala Premiere and Preview Sale featuring each artists favorite piece of the week.  The celebration culminates in a two-day sale, where the artists display the art they created all week long. Forty percent of the sale revenue benefits Telluride community programming through the Sheridan Arts Foundation.



Stay tuned for this year's schedule, coming soon. For an idea of the festivities, check out last year's schedule below. 

June 29 - July 3, 2012 - All Day Plein Air Artists at Work - Various Locations in and around Telluride
Visitors and locals alike will have the unique opportunity to observe 31 of the nation's top plein air artists as they paint on location in the Telluride, Colorado, preparing for the two day art sale on the 4 and 5 of July.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012 – 2 - 3:30 p.m.
Plein Air Quick Draw & Sale - Mountain Village Core - This event is free and open to the public!
This 90-minute painting competition provides the public an opportunity to view artists in action and purchase paintings at a special price, due to the fact that they are produced in only an hour and a half. The Quick Draw competition is open only to the Telluride Plein Air Celebration artists. This competition will be judged by the Ah Haa School of Arts in the Mountain Village Courtyard at 3:45 p.m., with the public sale to follow. The winner will receive a cash award and have their piece featured at the 2012 Ah Haa School's Art Auction fundraiser.

July 3, 2012 - Artist Choice Preview and Sale - Sheridan Opera House Gallery Room
Stop by the Sheridan Opera House to preview each artist's favorite piece created through the week in Telluride. All painting will be up for sale.

July 3, 2012 - 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Limited VIP Preview Sale and Brunch - Sheridan Opera House Gallery Room
$55 per person, includes food and mimosas. Stop by the Sheridan Opera House for a sneak peak of the week's best works - purchase a painting right on the spot! If you purchase a painting your ticket will be deducted from the price of the piece.

July 3, 2012 - 12 p.m.-6 p.m.
Artist Choice Preview Sale - Sheridan Opera House Gallery Room
Stop by the Sheridan Opera House for a sneak peak of the week's best works - purchase a painting right on the spot!

Wednesday & Thursday, July 4 & July 5, 2012
Plein Air Art Sale - Sheridan Opera House Courtyard /Elks Park - This event is free and open to the public! 

Thursday, July 5 - 8 p.m.
Gala Benefit Concert, TBA