In advance of the opening of the 11th Annual Olmsted Plein Air Invitational, each artist submitted a sampling of their work completed at home. Work can be en plein air or studio and is shown in our Virtual Preview Gallery to enable collectors and art afficionados to familiarize themselves with styles and techniques of the artists. All paintings in the Virtual Preview Gallery are available for purchase. Paintings not sold during the Virtual Preview will be on exhibit and available for purchase in our Exhibition Gallery on April 20.

Atlanta’s 11th Annual Olmsted Plein Air Invitational begins at sunrise. Participating Artists can paint anywhere in the state of Georgia until Tuesday, April 22, 2025 when all must be in Atlanta. Many Artists will arrive in Atlanta and remain through the show. Others will choose to paint in the mountains, on the coast, in the rolling hills of the piedmont or the flat sandy farms of southwest Georgia. It all starts today.

Don’t miss the opportunity to learn, experience, inquire, and be inspired by Master Artists who have generously volunteered to share their expertise. Talks and Demonstrations are FREE!

Talks and Demonstrations happen at our Exhibition Gallery 3107 Clairmont Rd Suite A Atlanta 30329.

Click Here to Register for Talks and Demonstrations

April 20 | 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Kendall Portis
Visual Storytelling - Finding your intent and then expressing it through abstract mark-making.

April 21 | 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Jill Banks

April 21 | 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Mason Williams
Thee Art of the Block In - Reliable techniques on how to establish a strong start to a landscape painting.

April 22 | 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Eileen Eder
Perspective Made Easy - Learn simple tips for painting anything from a single building to a landscape miles away.

April 22 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Ed Cahill
Use All the Aspects of Perspective to Make a Convincing Painting - Starting with a thumbnail, Ed will discuss controlling the chemistry, overlapping shapes, linear two-point perspective and atmospheric warm and cool color changes.

Click Here to Register for Talks and Demonstrations

April 23 | 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Ryan Jensen
People Impressions - Mastering the art of a focal point with the most relatable subject there is, people.

April 23 | 2:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Vlad Duchev
Do More of What You Love - Learn about choosing subject matter, color schemes, preparing the palette, what to avoid when plein air painting, what to keep and what to remove, when to stop.

April 24 | 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Susan Lynn
Painting Coastal - Susan will demonstrate painting a coastal scene and share a bit about her recently published book of seascapes and coastal marshes.  Copies of her book "Painting the Poetry of Land and Sea" will be available for purchase.

April 25 | 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Crista Pisano
Small Talk - A Tour Through the Gallery of Petite Paintings with the Princess of Petite"

April 25 | 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. John Caggiano
Dynamic Elements of a Landscape Painting - Key compositional devices to strengthen the structure and appeal of your painting.

April 25 | 7:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Michelle Held
Poetry vs Journalism - In this demo, we’ll explore how to infuse a poetic quality into your artwork, moving beyond a strictly representational, journalistic style. We’ll focus on techniques that evoke mood, emotion, and atmosphere, capturing the essence and feeling of a scene rather than simply documenting it. Learn how to use color, light, texture, and composition to tell a story that resonates deeply with the viewer, inviting them into an experience that is both personal and universal. Join us to transform your paintings from descriptive works into evocative expressions, where each brushstroke becomes a line of poetry on the canvas.

Click Here to Register for Talks and Demonstrations

April 26 | 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Michael Mills
Best of Show winner at the 6th Annual Georgia Color Plein Air in Savannah and first-time participant in the Olmsted Plein Air Invitational presents “Beyond Visual” Harmonic Composition. A step-by-step process for creating a complete painting with harmony - the Fibonacci Spiral.

April 26 | 12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Kyle Stuckey
The Importance of Edges - a dive into edge variation, how to create them, color changes, hard and deep, lost and soft.

April 27 | 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
Judges Panel Discussion: Selecting a Winning Painting -  Our three judges - Helene Fox, Dan Beck and Peter Trippi - will discuss paintings selected as award winners in the 2025 Olmsted Plein Air Invitational.  Recommended for collectors, artists, students, art aficionados.

April 27 | 2:45 p.m.-3:45 p.m. Susan Diehl
“Echoes of Russian Impressionism - How I Learned to Paint" - a demonstration will include a short discussion with slides on Russian, French and World Impressionism along with a demo of blocking in color on a large still life using those techniques.

Click Here to Register for Talks and Demonstrations

Exhibition Gallery Hours:
Monday, April 21 - Friday, April 25 | 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 26 | 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 27 | 10:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Sunday, April 27 | Toast to the Show 3:45 p.m.

Sunday, April 27 | Gallery Closes 4:00 p.m.

After the 11th Annual Olmsted Plein Air Invitational closes on April 27, all unsold paintings will remain in our Virtual Gallery and available for purchase. Check out the Virtual Gallery to see if that painting you can’t stop thinking about is still available. Purchases are private and secure.