The 2012 Telluride Plein Air event will take place June 29th through July 5th. Artists will arrive and begin painting in and around the Telluride area on June 29th, with the sale to take place on July 4rd and 5th in front of the Sheridan Opera House (Oak Street and Elk's Park). The gala premiere and preview sale will be held at a private residence for SAF patrons on the evening of July 3rd, with the annual concert taking place the evening of July 5th. Mark your calendar for this not to be missed week of fabulous art and entertainment.

Every Fourth of July in Telluride, Colorado, 30 nationally recognized Plein Air artists participate in the Telluride Plein Air celebration. In 2003, the Sheridan Arts Foundation first collaborated with Keith Wicks, Executive Director of Sonoma Plein Air, to produce this event, and now a week of outdoor art has become an indispensible part of the town’s Independence Day festivities.

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 (private residence).  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, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit that maintains and preserves the historic Sheridan Opera House.

2012 Schedule of Events

June 29th - July 3rd, 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 30 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 4th and 5th of July.

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 – 12pm - 1:30pm
Plein Air Quick Draw & Sale - Main Street - This event is free and open to the public!
This 90 minute painting competition, along the beautiful Colorado Avenue, 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 Sheridan Opera House Courtyard at 1:45pm, 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.

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012 - 6pm-8pm
Artist Choice Preview Sale - Private Residence, TBA
Sheridan Arts Foundation patrons are invited to a sneak preview and sale of each artists' favorite piece from the week.

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

Thursday, July 5th - 8pm
Gala Benefit Concert, TBA