Plein Air Smokies 2025
Save the Date:
September 19-26, 2026
Join us for a week of creativity and color as 20 nationally acclaimed plein air artists paint the Great Smoky Mountains and the surrounding region. Save these dates for the 2026 Plein Air Smokies:
- September 25 – Collectors Celebration & Gallery Sale
- September 26 – Open Quick Draw Competition
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All for a Great Cause
At Tremont, we believe that deepening our connection to the natural world leads to greater curiosity, care, and stewardship. Plein air painting shares that same spirit – pausing to observe, appreciate, and respond to nature with intention. Proceeds from Plein Air Smokies support Tremont’s mission to connect people of all ages with nature through immersive, hands-on experiences in the Smokies. Learn more about Tremont.
Become a 2026 Featured Artist
Be one of the 20 artists selected to participate in the 2026 Plein Air Smokies. Lori Putnam will be the judge, and Paul Kratter will be the juror.
- November 20, 2025 – Applications open at onlinejuriedshows.com
- January 25, 2026 – Applications due
- February 20, 2026 – Featured artists and four alternates announced
- September 19-26, 2026 – Required participation event dates
Event Awards:
- Best of Show – $4,000 plus an invitation to return in 2027 as a Featured Artist
- Artists’ Choice for Body of Work – $4,000
- Best Structure, Landscape, Water, and Use of Light – $1,500 each
2025 Plein Air Smokies Highlights
From September 20-27, artists traveled the trails, ridges, and riverbanks of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and surrounding areas with easels, palettes, and fresh eyes. Through a series of public events, visitors had the opportunity to meet their favorite artists, ask questions, and learn from their expertise. Read more.
Olena Babak
Carla Bosch
Krystal Brown
John Caggiano
Henry Coe
Vlad Duchev
Bill Farnsworth
John Guernsey
Shelby Keefe
Kimberly Kennard
John Lasater
Susan Lynn
Chuck Marshall
Charles Newman
Kathie Odom
Jeremy Sams
Richard Sneary
Richie Vios
Dawn Whitelaw
What is ‘Plein Air’ Painting?
Plein air (pronounced plen air) is a French term meaning “open air.” It refers to the practice of painting outdoors, on location, capturing the changing light, movement, and atmosphere of a landscape in real time. Rather than working from photographs or memory, plein air artists bring their easels and palettes directly into nature, often painting a scene in a single sitting to preserve its immediacy and energy.
This approach invites artists to engage deeply with a place, translating fleeting moments into lasting impressions. The result is artwork that feels alive: rich with light, color, and a true sense of time and place. For spectators, it’s a chance to witness the artistic process up close and see familiar landscapes through new eyes.
Want to Learn More?
Sign up for emails from Plein Air Smokies to be the first to know when event details are added or we open applications for featured artists for next year’s event.
