Come to The Plein Air Convention and Experience Your Transformation as an Artist

(All while having a whole lot of fun!)

Every year, hundreds of the world’s smartest outdoor painters gather at the Plein Air Convention & Expo (PACE) to learn painting techniques from the world’s top artists. They come to see what’s new, what’s hot, and what’s working RIGHT NOW in art marketing. 

This is the largest gathering of plein air painters on the planet and there is no other event like it. The convention is different every year. Each is in a different location and features incredible painters and amazing presenters. 

Every year, there are artists at PACE who are, or will become, some of the greatest artists of our time… and you get to meet and mingle with them! This is an event you will truly regret not attending.

“PACE is the most important gathering of artists in history”  — Jean Stern, Art Historian and director of the Irvine Museum.

Watch this short video recap. We had a ton of fun and want you to join us in The Great Smoky Mountains for even more fun at PACE24.

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Here’s What You’ll Do at PACE

Five Stages Featuring the World’s Best Artists Sharing Their Best-Kept Secrets

You’ll be watching, listening, and learning from some of the world’s top plein air and figurative artists. You’ll attend classes, demonstrations, and social activities with faculty and convention guests who love art, and love to talk about art, just as much as you do!!

You have the freedom to choose which classes and demonstrations you want to attend from any or all of the tracks — oil, pastel, watercolor, and, for the first time ever — an acrylic track! Also new this year: a track just for art event organizers!

Every room and stage has large viewing screens, making every seat a good seat so you won’t miss one minute of the action.

Learn from 80+ Instructors, all for the price of a single workshop!

You’ll be making breakthrough after breakthrough as you attend classes and demos with a variety of world-class instructors. 

For the price of a single workshop, you’re getting this rare opportunity to learn from so many advanced artists who want nothing more than to help you become the best you can be. You’ll find the PACE faculty to be very helpful and encouraging. Just think what hanging out with this crowd for a week will do for your own painting skills!

In addition to the convention, there’s two pre-convention workshops to choose from. These workshops feature top artists showing you their proven formulas for creating high quality paintings. There is an additional fee for the workshops and you’ll find they are worth every penny!

Daily Painting in Stunning Locations with Top Artists as YOUR Personal Coaches

Get ready because this part is big! Bring your own paint gear and we’ll all head out to beautiful and iconic paint sites — Yes, it will be the largest gathering of plein air artists all painting together in one spot at the same time. We break that record every year and this year will be the biggest yet!

While out painting, we’ll have field painters on hand to offer suggestions, critiques, their expert tips and techniques, and some will even be doing onsite demos for all to see!

New Ways to Sell More of Your Paintings

Every year, PleinAir magazine publisher, Eric Rhoads reveals the latest and greatest art marketing techniques and shows you how to put these tools to work so you can launch or advance your art career. If you show or sell your artwork, you don’t want to miss out on Eric’s art marketing sessions at PACE.

Instant Friendships, Just Add Paint!

Even if you don’t know anyone else going to PACE, don’t worry! You’ll instantly make new friends because you already have one very cool thing in common — painting!

To help you meet and make new friends even before the convention starts, you can join the private Facebook group. This is a great way to get to know others who’ll be at PACE, to arrange for ride sharing, and to get your questions answered. 

Right before the opening ceremony at convention, come to the orientation session where we talk all about how the convention works, how to find your way around, and we’ll have some fun prizes to give away. This orientation is for everyone — you don’t have to be a first-timer to join in!

Oh, you’re the introverted type? No problem! There is zero pressure to do anything you don’t want to do. Meet and talk to as few or as many people as you want.

If you’re more social, there’s plenty of time to meet up with old and new friends for dinner or a drink. 

Casual attire is encouraged and we highly recommend ditching the cute shoes for comfortable ones.

This convention is the perfect blend of social activities, painting, classes, demos, and of course, shopping!

Shop ‘Til You Drop!

You’ll be in awe when you enter the Expo Hall full of vendors and suppliers offering some of your favorite art supplies at exclusive convention-only pricing — this is a great time to treat yourself to some new art materials and save yourself a few bucks, too.

You’ll also want to visit the PleinAir Store where our friendly convention staff will help you find just the right instructional videos, books, souvenirs, art gadgets, and even some doo-dads you never even knew you needed! 

Something for Every Level of Artist, Including Beginners

At PACE, there is something for everyone. All levels of painters will benefit — from beginners to professional artists, all are welcome (and encouraged!) to attend. 

There’s even a pre-convention Basics Course you can attend that will get you ready for the convention paintout events. Best of all, your instructors for the Basics Course will become your mentors for the entire week! 

No matter what your goals as an artist are, you’re sure to leave the convention a better painter than when you arrived. You’ll be challenged to think bigger and to look at your own artwork differently.

You’ll learn tips and techniques from some of the best painters in the world and will immediately put your new skills to work during the paint-out sessions. 

You’ll find the atmosphere friendly and the people helpful. You’ll not only learn more about plein air painting, you’ll have a great time and make new friends while doing it!

Be prepared! You’re going to go home with a whole new sense of enthusiasm for painting!

There’s No Risk!

If you’re not quite sure about attending, there’s no need to worry. You’ll have total peace of mind when you register to hold your spot. Should you need to cancel, you’ll receive up to a full refund. (See the full terms at checkout.)

We understand that plans can change, but if you have any desire at all to attend, we encourage you to register early before we sell out. Once that happens, we would have to turn you away and that would make us very sad.

When you get to PACE, if you decide you really hate it, just let us know before the end of day 1 and we’ll refund 100% of your money. That’s right, our 100% Money Back Guarantee!

Treat Yourself

Treat yourself to this week of extensive learning, explosive laughter, painting iconic scenery, and then return home completely transformed and excited to attend PACE again next year!

Register today, tell your friends, and start making your plans to attend the 9th Annual Plein Air Convention & Expo in Santa Fe!

It will be the time of your life. 

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