2025 Plein Air Weekend Artist Information
We invite you to join artists from across Michigan and throughout the Midwest for this year’s 2-day event. Our Plein Air Weekend is an opportunity for artists to demonstrate your skill at light and shadow work perspective. We look forward to sharing your creative expressions with our guests!
The 2025 Plein Air Weekend is scheduled for August 1 and 2. Online registration for the Quick Draw and Paint Out will take place on Wednesday, March 19 beginning at 9:30 am. Be sure that you are on the GAAC email list for updates. You can find the GAAC’s mailing list sign up page here: https://glenarborart.org/mailing-list-signup/
Quick Draw (Friday, August 1, 2025)
ONLINE REGISTRATION OPENS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 AT 9:30 AM.
Immerse yourself for 3 hours in Glen Arbor, a vibrant community between Sleeping Bear Bay and the Glen Lakes. Let the beautiful scenery, people, buildings, storefronts, and small-town life capture your imagination and artistry. This year’s Plein Air location encompasses: M-22 from the Mill on the northeast end of town all the way west to the Christian Science Center at S Forest Haven Dr. It includes the area from Lake Michigan on the north side to State Street on the south. It does not include the Glen Lakes.
Check-in at the Glen Arbor Township Hall beginning at 8:30 – 11:00 AM. Return of artwork by 12:00–2:30 PM. You have a 3-hour window of time to paint in the Glen Arbor area. We will award cash prizes for the best Quick Draw paintings. The artwork sale is 4:00–6:00 PM in the Glen Arbor Town Hall. Unsold artwork must be removed at 6:00 pm.
Artist Registration Fees: GAAC Members $20 / Non-Members $25, and to register at the door, $30.
NEW – Sunsetter (Friday, August 1, 2025)
REGISTRATION AT THE DOOR ONLY.
This serene painting session provides a unique opportunity for artists to immerse themselves in the changing light and vibrant colors of dusk, translating the natural beauty of the moment onto their canvases. Whether inspired by the fiery hues of the sky or the tranquil reflections on the water, the Sunsetter offers a perfect blend of artistic inspiration and connection to nature.
Registration will be available at the Glen Arbor Township Hall to the first 50 registrants on Friday, 8:30 – 11:00 AM. Sunsetter registration is weather dependent, therefore no pre-registration. Artwork must be returned on Saturday, 7:30 – 10:30 AM. We will award cash prizes for the best Sunsetter paintings. The sale of artwork begins Saturday at 5:00 PM with our Curators Circle and Artist Preview and Purchase. General admission begins at 5:30–7:00 PM in the Glen Arbor Town Hall. Unsold artwork must be removed at 7:00 pm.
Artist Registration Fee: $25
Paint Out (Saturday, August 2, 2025)
ONLINE REGISTRATION OPENS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19 AT 9:30 AM.
For our day-long Paint Out you may paint anywhere in the area, including the villages of Glen Arbor and Empire, the beautiful water in our Glen Lakes, and of course, in the National Park where you will need a park pass to paint.
Open registration is available on a first come first serve basis only (with the exception of those qualified artists for early registration), and we limit the number of participating artists to the first 75 to register. Registration takes place online and continues until full.
We will award 1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes, along with two honorable mentions. Our first prize is the Amy L. Clark-Carels award of $1,000, given in memory of this talented local artist. The sale of artwork begins at 5:00 PM with our Curators Circle and Artist Preview and Purchase. General admission begins at 5:30–7:00 PM in the Glen Arbor Town Hall. Online pre-registration only. Unsold artwork must be removed by 7:00 PM.
Artist Registration Fees: GAAC Members $30 / Non-Members $40
NOTES:
- If the registration for the Saturday Paint-Out is full, don’t despair, you can sign up for the waiting list. We do try to accommodate as many artists as possible on the waiting list.
- To qualify for early registration you must have been a previous PAINT OUT award winner.
- Links to the Quick Draw and Paint Out will be available when registration opens.
Additional Information
Confirmation & Cancellation: You will receive an email confirmation upon receipt of your paid registration for all Plein Air Weekend events. For cancellations, you will receive a full refund up to 7 days prior to the event date. There is no refund after that.
Judging: Please read the information sheet regarding the judging and conflict of Interest.
National Park Pass: required for painting within the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. More information can be found here: https://www.nps.gov/slbe/index.htm
Quick Draw and Paint Out Check-In: Glen Arbor Township Hall located at 6394 W. Western Avenue/M-22 in Glen Arbor.
Artist Registration
2025 Artist registration for the Quick Draw and Paint Out will start on Wednesday, March 19 at 9:30 AM.
NOTE: We use Eventbrite for registration. You will receive an email reminder close to the event asking you to bring your identification to registration. YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO THIS. THE EMAIL IS EMBEDDED INTO THE EVENTBRITE PROTOCOL. NOT REQUIRED FOR OUR PAW WEEKEND.
You must go to the Eventbrite website to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-plein-air-weekend-artist-registration-general-opens-march-19-registration-1223705519149?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Thank you 2024 Plein Air Weekend Sponsors!
Food and Beverage Sponsors
Artist Lunch Sponsor: Inn and Trail
Wine Sponsor for Artist, Curator Circle and Sponsor Reception: Anderson’s Market
