Frequently Asked Questions
If your question isn’t answered below, please reach out to us!
Plein air is a French term for “outside” or “outdoors.” The French coined the term plein air painting (technically: painting en plein air) to mean painting outside, in direct contact with nature and the elements.
There has been a significant movement toward plein air painting in appreciation of the beauty of nature. Nature is always changing, and one can never paint the same scene twice. This is what makes plein air so different from studio painting. Creation never lacks interesting areas to travel and paint … and painting with friends makes it even better.
The Plein Air Convention & Expo (PACE), organized by Streamline Publishing, is a premier event dedicated to plein air painting. Founded by Eric Rhoads over a dozen years ago, PACE has established itself as a leading platform for plein air enthusiasts to gather, learn, and create.
When most people think of a convention, they think of a huge conference, like the political conventions they see on TV. PACE is not that.
At PACE, attendees experience superior education through workshops and demonstrations conducted by world-renowned instructors in the field of plein air painting. These sessions provide invaluable insights and techniques that empower artists to enhance their skills and creativity.
Moreover, PACE offers a unique environment where like-minded individuals can connect and share their passion for painting outdoors. It fosters a community of artists who support and inspire each other, creating a vibrant atmosphere conducive to learning and growth.
In addition to education and networking, PACE features an Expo Hall where attendees can access a wide range of supplies specifically tailored for plein air painting. This includes everything from paints and brushes to easels and outdoor gear, ensuring that artists have the tools they need to excel in their craft.
Overall, the Plein Air Convention & Expo is not just an event, but a transformative experience for plein air artists of all levels, providing them with the knowledge, resources, and community to thrive in their artistic journey.
We kick off our event with an Opening Ceremony — a fun burst of creativity, camaraderie, and celebration.
We introduce our esteemed faculty, hailing from many corners of the globe, who are here to ignite your passion and guide you through the intricacies of plein air painting. Their expertise and dedication promise to profoundly enrich your artistic pursuits.
In the spirit of honoring excellence, we present a Lifetime Achievement Award to a luminary whose contributions have shaped the landscape of plein air painting. The remarkable legacy of these honorees inspires us all to reach greater heights. And stay tuned for the unveiling of the PleinAir Salon Grand Prize, a testament to outstanding artistic achievement.
We also have a special (and surprising!) onstage painting game, showcasing fun and creativity in action. You won’t want to miss this inspiring spectacle!
Following the Opening Ceremony, we continue our festivities with a lively cocktail party offering sumptuous hors d’oeuvres, where conversations flow as freely as our artistic expressions.
Each day begins with a stand-up breakfast and coffee/tea starting at 7:30 AM, followed by Home Room at 8 AM for announcements and exciting prize giveaways. Throughout the morning, you’ll immerse yourself in a diverse array of stage sessions designed to expand your skills and perspective. Whether you choose to delve deeply into one area or sample from each stage, there’s something enriching for every artistic soul.
In the early afternoon, another Home Room session awaits with lots of prizes, paving the way for an afternoon of group plein air painting adventures.
For those who thrive in the nighttime hours, our captivating evening sessions offer further opportunities to learn and connect.
This schedule repeats daily, culminating in a breathtaking final day of painting at a stunning location where your creativity can flourish amid natural beauty.
Main Stage Sessions
The first session of the day is on the Main Stage; after that, locations are varied throughout the day. These large sessions may feel a bit overwhelming, as everyone attends. The key is to arrive early and try to sit up close. Our professional tech team will place huge screens to make everything easy to view, so you won’t miss a thing.
Other Stages and Sessions
When the other stages open, people are more spread out. Attendees are encouraged to move around to see everything offered. Please take full advantage of all the amazing sessions, speakers, and artist demos.
Unique Opportunities
Remember, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. You may encounter faculty members at PACE who do not normally teach and are rarely seen onstage. Each convention is unique and special, providing an opportunity to connect or reconnect with the plein air community. We don’t know if the faculty we have in any given year will return, so seize the moment to learn from and engage with these incredible artists.
A “faculty field painter” is a PACE mentor or instructor who assists artists during outdoor painting sessions. Here’s how they will help you.
Mentorship and Assistance: Field painters are experienced artists who offer guidance, answer questions, and provide help to participants during painting sessions.
On-Site Availability: They are present in the painting area and make themselves available to the artists.
Visible Identifiers: Faculty field painters can be easily identified by their bright “FACULTY” hats and tall flags.
Accessible Help: Artists can use a “STOP HERE” card to signal a faculty field painter when they need assistance. (These cards are provided in the bags at registration.)
Interactive Participation: Some faculty field painters may also set up and paint alongside the participants, providing a hands-on learning experience.
Specialized Mentors: For those in specific courses, such as the Plein Air Basics Course, there are dedicated mentors who work exclusively with those groups.
This setup ensures that participants have immediate access to expert advice and support, enhancing their learning and painting experience.
Duration and Effort
Time Frame: It takes two years or longer to plan a PACE convention.
Team Effort: A dedicated team works tirelessly to organize and execute the event.
Selection of Location and Faculty
Handpicked and Vetted: Locations and faculty are carefully selected to ensure top-quality teaching and experiences.
Elite Instructors: Faculty includes internationally renowned painters like Joseph Zbukvic and Marc Dalessio — artists who are considered “Ivy League”-level teachers in the painting world.
Event Features
Variety of Mediums: Teaching sessions and demos cover a variety of painting mediums on multiple stages.
Expo Hall: Top vendors who provide a significant array of plein air-specific art materials for learning and purchase.
Special Mentors: Exclusive mentors for specific groups, such as Plein Air Basics Course attendees.
What’s Included in the Cost
Instruction and Mentorship
Access to Top Painters: Opportunity to be taught by and spend personal time with some of the best painters in the world.
Faculty Field Painters: Mentors available on site to assist during plein air afternoon sessions.
Learning and Transformation
Life-Changing Experience: The chance to experience significant growth and transformation as a painter.
Comprehensive Learning: Exposure to a broad range of painting techniques and mediums.
Expo Hall Access
Vendor Art Materials: Access to a wide variety of plein air-specific art materials for purchase and learning.
Networking and Community
Community of Artists: Being part of a community of like-minded artists, fostering connections and collaborations.
The cost encompasses the comprehensive and invaluable experience of learning from elite instructors, access to exclusive materials, and the transformative nature of the event, making it a priceless investment for attendees.
- Convention orientation
- Opening ceremony, which includes the PleinAir Salon Grand Prize Presentation, Lifetime Achievement Award Presentation, and more
- All-access pass to all main stage sessions and oil painting sessions
- All-access pass to all watercolor sessions
- All-access pass to all pastel sessions
- All-access pass to all gouache and acrylic sessions
- All-access pass to all Expo Hall sessions
- A ticket to participate in the world’s largest paint-out each day for four days (some venues may have an extra fee)
- Breakfast each morning on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
- All speakers
- All demonstrations
- An Expo Hall with art materials from all the best plein air vendors
- Book and video signings
- Photos with faculty members
- Opening cocktail party
- Closing party
- Evening speciality sessions
- Critique sessions
- Amazing prizes given away each day
- PACE Facebook Group, to collaborate with your fellow attendees before the event and continue to learn and keep in touch after
- Pre-convention workshops
- Plein Air Basics Course
- Bus transportation to and from the paint-outs
- Easel space in the Art Show & Sale
- Entry to some of the paint-out venues
- Platinum VIP Package
- Gold VIP Package
Payment plans are offered through Streamline Publishing for general admission tickets only. When you register for the convention, you can select the payment plan for monthly installments. After the initial payment, payments will be deducted from your account every 30 days until paid in full. For VIP packages, Streamline offers the option of monthly installments through Affirm Shop Pay (a third-party payment processor not affiliated with Streamline Publishing).
The VIP Experience at PACE offers two levels of exclusive access: Gold VIP and Platinum VIP.
We aim to make your experience at PACE as memorable and enriching as possible with these exclusive perks!
Gold VIP Experience:
- Reserved close-up seating
- Invitation to the VIP cocktail party with faculty
- Access to the exclusive VIP Lounge stocked with refreshments and snacks all day
- Special collection of VIP goodies
- To find out more about the Gold VIP Experience, click here
Platinum VIP Experience:
- Includes everything in the Gold VIP package
- Special event, like a private studio tour with a renowned artist
- Front row seating for the main stage
- Exclusive dinner with the main stage artists
- Stuffed goodie bag
- In-room gift
- To find out more about the Platinum VIP Experience, click here
- Note: The Platinum VIP program is currently sold out for 2025
PACE 2025 is being held in the beautiful mountains of Reno and Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Convention Hotel:
Nugget Casino Resort
1100 Nugget Avenue
Sparks, NV 89431
The closest airports
- Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO), approximately 10 minutes away
- Truckee Tahoe Airport, approximately 45 minutes away
- Sacramento International Airport (SMF), approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes away
Airport Shuttle Service
- ONLY Reno-Tahoe International Airport has hotel shuttle service. They offer a shuttle every 30 minutes from 6 AM to 11:30 PM.
Major cities nearby
- Carson City, Nevada, approximately 35 minutes away
- Sacramento, California, approximately 2 hours, 30 minutes away
- Please put Nugget Casino Resort (1100 Nugget Ave., Sparks, NV 89431, United States) into your GPS for exact driving times.
Having a car is not essential for attending PACE. However, transportation to and from the airport and to the paint-outs is NOT included with PACE tickets.
Bus tickets for paint-out transportation will be available for purchase closer to the event (approximately 2 months before).
Carpooling is encouraged once you arrive at the event; the Help Desk team on site can assist with arranging rides.
Transportation to and from the paint-outs is NOT included in your PACE ticket, so you will need to arrange transportation of some kind. If you decide to rent a vehicle, please consider offering space in your car to others — carpooling is a great way to make new friends. Once we have finalized our paint-out locations and timing, we will offer bus tickets for sale.
Once we finalize our paint-out locations and timing, we will offer bus tickets for sale.
There is a cocktail party with heavy hors d’oeuvres on Monday evening, May 19, and a stand-up breakfast at 7 AM on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings.
The Nugget Casino Resort offers restaurants from fine dining to quick meals. There will be grab-and-go options available for painting days. The hotel is centrally located, with restaurants nearby, should you choose to stay elsewhere. There is also the option to use delivery services such as Uber Eats and Grubhub.
The convention hotel is Nugget Casino Resort. We have negotiated a special rate for PACE attendees. Reserve your room here. Staying off site is an option, but it is much more fun to be at the convention hotel — where the action is!
100% “Peace of Mind” Guarantee: We understand life happens and circumstances change, so we give the option of transferring a purchased ticket to a future in-person event within the following year, or offer refunds based on the cancellation policy below.
Cancellation through 12/30/24 = 100% refund, less a $50 processing fee
Cancellation 12/31/24-4/14/25 = 50% refund, less a $50 processing fee
Cancellation on or after 4/15/25= 0% refund
If you reserved a room at the convention hotel, please contact the hotel directly to cancel your reservation. Failure to do so may result in no-show charges.
Pre-convention workshops are sessions that occur before the official start of the convention and are led by faculty members. These workshops focus on instruction and demonstrations rather than being paint-along sessions. The Basics Course is an exception and may include paint-along elements. It’s important to note that pre-convention workshops are not included in the general admission ticket.
Pre-convention workshops — 2025 Instructors TBA
For Beginners
If you’re a beginner or it’s your first time at PACE, consider attending the Plein Air Basics Course pre-convention workshop and the orientation session at 2:45 PM on Monday to meet other beginners. The Basics Course is designed to provide foundational learning tools for new painters and help them get the most out of the convention. This workshop will take place on May 19 from 7 AM-2:30 PM. For more information, click here.
Pre-convention workshops are on sale based upon availability.
Our workshops do not have specific levels. Our faculty is highly skilled at communicating with a diverse audience, ensuring that both beginners and advanced painters will find workshops that suit their needs and skill levels. This inclusive approach allows all attendees to benefit from the instruction provided, regardless of their experience.
Once you have purchased your ticket for PACE 2025, you can ask to join the Plein Air Convention Attendees Facebook Page.
There you can ask other attendees for advice and information. This is a great way to connect with fellow participants, share experiences, and get tips on making the most out of the convention. Click here Plein Air Convention Attendees to join the Facebook group.
The Art Show & Sale features paintings from both faculty members and attendees. You can use our easel to display paintings done at PACE or paintings brought from home. There are a limited number of easel positions for sale. You can find out more about the Art Show & Sale here.
Art Show & Sale easels are on sale first come, first served, based on availability.
The public will be invited to see and purchase your displayed art through local advertising and social media announcements. Local galleries and collectors will also receive an invitation prior to the event.
If you are staying at the Nugget Casino Resort, you can leave your gear in your room — there will be time to go to your room to collect it before boarding the bus or heading out for the afternoon paint-out.
Around Reno and Tahoe; there are several beautiful and iconic locations perfect for plein air painting. These locations offer a variety of landscapes and subjects that are sure to inspire and challenge plein air painters of all levels. Once we have the agenda finalized, we will be sharing the exact locations.
The agenda will be released as soon as it has been finalized.
First Night: After the opening session, there will be a welcome cocktail party where attendees can mingle, meet the faculty, and start building connections.
Other Nights:
- Evening Painting Sessions: These sessions provide an opportunity to paint in the beautiful evening light, often referred to as the “golden hour,” under the guidance of experienced instructors.
- Critique Sessions: Participants can receive valuable feedback on their work from the instructors and from peers, helping them improve their techniques and gain new insights.
Closing Party (Thursday): The event will culminate in a closing party, offering a final chance to celebrate the week’s achievements, socialize, and enjoy a memorable evening with fellow artists and instructors.
Yes, there will be ample time to network at the event. You can socialize and connect with fellow artists at the welcome cocktail party, during meals, and between sessions. In addition to improving your painting skills, you are encouraged to use the time at the painting locations to build connections with other artists. Consider creating a page on Facebook or another networking platform before the event to further enhance your networking opportunities.
In 2024, PACE had a record number of partners that attended, so to accommodate them, a partner ticket will soon be offered. This ticket allows non-painting spouses, friends, or significant others to attend the opening and closing parties, be included in breakfast, and purchase bus tickets to join the paint-outs with the artists. Note that partners must be registered ahead of time, and no partner tickets will be available for purchase at the event.
Additionally, PACE is coordinating with the Hotel Concierge to offer a daily activity for partners to enjoy with other partners while the artists are in sessions.
At the Nugget Casino Resort, partners can explore a variety of amenities including a casino, restaurants/bars, pools, spa/fitness center, shopping, and more.
If it’s their first time attending PACE, all partners are invited to the Newcomers Orientation session at 2:45 PM on Monday to meet other non-painting attendees.
If you have any questions while at the event, you can contact the Help Desk. Additionally, Streamline team members and volunteers will be available to assist with any questions or concerns you may have. For any inquiries related to your room and reservation, please direct them to the Reservations Desk at Nugget Casino Resort.
Please find our most recent lineup here. https://pleinairconvention.com/#faculty
Yes, you will have the opportunity to meet the faculty artists after demos and at paint-outs. The demo artists will be wearing bright-colored caps that say “FACULTY” for identification. Please wait until the faculty have completed their demos and are off stage before approaching them with questions.
We select our demo artists with great care to provide the best possible education and a variety of approaches. As the publishers of PleinAir Magazine, we stay informed about who’s currently prominent, who is rising in popularity, and who is on the verge of becoming well known. We choose our faculty based on their teaching ability and what they have to offer. Some are selected to teach onstage, while others are chosen to work with participants during outdoor painting sessions. The convention is designed as a sampler of different demonstrations and approaches to give you a well-rounded education.
The Expo Hall at PACE is an art supply store where vendors sell a variety of art materials, including paints, brushes, easels, frames, and more. Company representatives are available to answer any questions about their products, host in-booth demos by faculty artists, and offer “try it” areas where you can sample products before buying. The Expo Hall is open throughout the entire convention, and attendees are welcome to shop there Monday through Thursday.
You can find sponsorship information here.