Monuments and Canyons Plein Air Invitational: Celebrate Western Colorado’s Scenic Landscapes

Anita Winter, Canyon Depths, 11x14

The Monuments and Canyons Plein Air Invitational allows artists to visit and paint the unique landscapes of Western Colorado. This year’s event is hosted online and will benefit educational programming for the Colorado National Monument Association and the Colorado Canyons Association. 

Before the camera was available to capture the magnitude of natural landscapes, artists of the late 18th century developed the en plein air style to depict a real moment through a painting. Plein air painting is the act of painting outdoors to reflect a landscape scene and sometimes done as a group. In the past, Plein Air Invitational events allowed landscapes to come to life as artists from around the country brought their easel to the high desert. 

John Lintott, the co-executive director of Colorado National Monument Association, said this show is special regardless of being online or in person. 

“It highlights some of the most scenic areas of Western Colorado’s federally protected land and lets the viewers connect with an artist's own translation of the scene,” he says.

Lewis Williams, Dream Of Chrome Boulders, 12x16

Colorado National Monument, McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area (NCA) and Dominguez-Escalante NCA have become the featured presentation of the plein air painters. 

This year, the event adapted to allow artists to visit Western Colorado public land on their own accord before the show opened on October 2. 

“Because of COVID-19, some artists were not able to make it to the area to paint so we allowed artists to submit works completed in the studio,” Lintott says.

The online art gallery features 27 artists profiles, with each exhibiting six pieces en plein air style. The artist profiles showcase their individual artist journey and speaks to the experience of painting en plein air. On Paula Swain’s artist profile she depicts plein air painting as an experience that not only includes bugs, wind and sunscreen in the eyes, but amazing moments of changing light, the smell of warm pine trees, and meeting people from all over the world. 

Previously, the show allowed viewers to meet the artists, see their work close up and leave a memorable piece of art. Lintott commented on how the show adapted to being online by allowing the organization to host the exhibition from three days to almost three months (October 2nd - December 20th).

“The timing of the online show extending well into December means the work will make great gifts before the Holidays,” Lintott says.

Many returning collectors show their support of the event by adding to their collection a fresh piece to highlight Western Colorado. 

“We hope this show makes our community members and people who visit the area proud to be among such incredible public lands,” Lintott adds. 

The online art gallery can be visited at coloradonma.org. All the work purchased through this event benefits the organizations that support the public land.

Allen B Brockbank, Casting A Long Shadow, 20x16