Don’t miss out. Master Plein Air Artists share tips, insights and expertise in a full schedule of talk/demo sessions, all geared to artists, collectors, aficionados and those with the need to learn. Register for any and all you are able to attend - it’s FREE - CLICK HERE

Ryan Jensen – Sunday, April 19  2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Artists and collectors alike are captivated by paintings of sunsets dancing across water — glowing reflections on lakes, quiet rivers, and peaceful ponds. In this inspiring demonstration, Ryan will share his personal methods for capturing the magic of a sunset on water.

Through step-by-step instruction, he’ll explore how to translate light, color, and reflection into a painting that feels alive. Learn how warm tones, atmospheric perspective, and expressive brushwork work together to create a scene that not only captures a moment in time, but also warms the heart and evokes deep emotion.

Whether you’re drawn to tranquil lakes, shimmering rivers, or luminous evening skies, this demonstration will offer practical techniques and artistic insight to help you bring the beauty of sunset reflections to life on canvas. Click Here to Register

Jill Banks – Monday, April 20 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

People in the urban landscape. It will cover how to use architecture as a guide for determining people proportions, trusting your gut to find the stars of your scene and logistically tips for painting in bustling spots. Click Here to Register

Mills, Michael – Tuesday, April 21 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

One hour+ paint along using plein air techniques.   Subject: Landscape. Bring your own supplies: 8x10” panel or canvas (what ever size you have); Oil, acrylic, pastel, water color, Pochade box tripod setup or table easel, Palette of some kind, Bristle and synthetic brushes, Palette knife, Paper towels.  All skill levels welcome to participate. Click Here to Register

 Tomova-Clark, Lyudmilla – Tuesday, April 21  1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Dramatic Urban Scenes
Lyudmila Tomova Clark will demonstrate an urban cityscape in oil, revealing how powerful contrasts of light and shadow can evoke mood, depth, and atmosphere. This demo explores how to design city compositions for maximum impact using strong value relationships, confident shape simplification, and dynamic perspective to create structure, depth, and visual drama.  Click Here to Register

Waters, Susan – Tuesday, April 21  6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Susan will be painting outside the exhibition gallery on Tuesday, April 21st during the Artist Welcome Reception. She’ll honor the Brown Thrasher, Georgia’s state bird, by creating a nest with a clutch of unhatched eggs.

As she works, she’ll discuss key design elements, demonstrate the use of a limited palette, explain wiping back techniques, and walk through the progression from a transparent underpainting to a more opaque, finished painting. Click Here to Register

Leach, Trijsten – Wednesday, April 22 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Plein Air Abroad: A Tradition of Travel and Painting

For centuries, artists have traveled the world in search of inspiration, carrying their easels across borders and cultures. In this presentation, we’ll explore how painters such as Claude Monet, John Singer Sargent, Joaquín Sorolla, Edward Seago, and Edgar Alwin Payne embraced travel as an essential part of their artistic journey.

We’ll also consider what it means to paint abroad today, along with practical insights drawn from my family’s decade of traveling and painting throughout the United States and overseas. Join me for a look at the enduring connection between plein air painting, adventure, and exploration. Click Here to Register

 Mogilka, Kelley – Wednesday, April 22  1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Join Kelley Mogilka as she paints an alla prima portrait from a live model. Kelley will share her method and techniques for making a portrait feel alive and present, through brush application, careful observation and a simplified way of seeing to capture "the essentials".

At just 25 years old, Mogilka was recognized in Southwest Art Magazine’s “21 Under 31: Young Artists to Collect Now.” Her paintings have received awards from the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association and the Salmagundi Club in New York. Most notably, she was the recipient of the Emerging Artist Award at Pence Gallery in Davis, where she held her first solo exhibition in 2023. Click Here to Register

Bradley, Kip – Wednesday, April 22  7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Working from a still life, Kip will lead a discussion of color theory, demonstrating four palette strategies for creating volume (three-dimensional form) and space (depth/perspective): analogous color, complementary color, the mud palette, and the soup method. Click Here to Register

Robinson, Lori – Thursday, April 23  10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

In the Spirit of Olmsted: Structure, Color & Movement

In this one-hour demonstration, Lori Keith Robinson explores how strong underlying structure supports expressive, energetic painting. Inspired by Frederick Law Olmsted’s belief that landscapes should be carefully designed yet never feel rigid or overly formal, she builds a thoughtful compositional framework beneath the surface. From that foundation, movement, calligraphic looseness in the brushstroke, and the pushing of color carry the mood and vitality of the painting — revealing how structure can remain quiet while color and gesture bring the landscape fully to life. Click Here to Register

Immel, Peggy – Thursday, April 23  1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

PAINTING TREES FROM TRUNK TO TREETOP

Join me for a live oil painting demonstration all about trees — those leafy models who never complain about holding a pose.

As I paint, I’ll share how to capture the unique personality of different trees — because cottonwoods don’t behave like pines, and neither look like generic green lollipops. We’ll cover gesture, structure, and the subtle traits that give trees character.

We’ll also tackle mixing fresh, luminous greens without drifting into “green pea soup,” and explore how trees change in shape, value, edges, and color as they recede into the distance.

If your trees all look related or your greens give you trouble, come join me — we’ll sort it out together. Click Here to Register

Bathe, Beth – Friday, April 24  10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

"Carving Out A Painting"
Reductive painting technique using water mixable oil paint and limited tonal palette

Wondering what Water Mixable Oil paints are all about? Known for blurring the line between watercolor and oil paintings, Beth Bathe's unparalleled style evokes feelings of nostalgia, like an old sepia-toned photograph. Beth uses unconventional tools including squeegees and cotton swabs, along with her brushes focusing on composition, values, edges, and drawing rather than color. Perfect for alla prima and plein air work and studies. Click Here to Register

Cheers, Robin – Friday, April 24  1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Impressionist artist Robin Cheers will demonstrate her painting approach while talking about what makes Impressionism such a perennial favorite among artists and collectors. Impressionism celebrates the ordinary —sun-dappled gardens, bustling cafés, and fleeting moments that anyone can recognize and relate to. In today's digital age, the visible, spontaneous brushstrokes of the style continue to reassert the presence of the artist, offering a tangible sense of human connection. See how Robin interprets her subject with impressionist color, texture and style of her own. Click Here to Register

Bailey, Jason – Friday, April 24  7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

In this plein air demo, Jason will show how to simplify a busy street scene into an impression of a moment. He will focus on strong composition, grouping large shapes, unifying values for depth, and using expressive brushwork to suggest movement—leaving out unnecessary detail to keep the painting fresh and atmospheric. Click Here to Register

Yeliseyev, Vlad – Saturday, April 25  10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Join Vlad for a Live Watercolor Demonstration and Book Signing

Renowned watercolor artist Vlad will demonstrate how to paint light on objects to create loose, painterly watercolors—moving beyond the mindless copying approach to painting. During this inspiring session, he will share his color-mixing method and explain his concept of the Three Planes of Vision, a powerful framework he uses to create a convincing sense of depth and dimension in his work.

Following the demonstration, Vlad will sign copies of his new book, Light and Color in the Watercolor Landscape, released in February 2026. The book is available for purchase online through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Please note that books will not be sold during or after the presentation. Click Here to Register

Judge’s Panel Discussion – Sunday, April 26  1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Each year, the Olmsted Invitational convenes a distinguished panel of three experts to review and preview the works submitted to the competition. This dynamic panel discussion has become one of the most anticipated and popular sessions of the event.

Attendees gain rare insight into the decision-making process behind selecting successful paintings, as panelists share thoughtful critiques, professional perspectives, and masterful observations about composition, technique, originality, and emotional impact. The session encourages questions, lively dialogue, and meaningful exchange.

Highly recommended for collectors, artists, and anyone eager to deepen their understanding of what makes a painting truly stand out, this discussion offers an invaluable opportunity to learn from seasoned experts in the field. Click Here to Register