See the World in a Whole New Way — Like a Plein Air Painter!
Join us for this beginner-friendly, hands-on session with well known, professional artists—your essential launchpad for the Plein Air Convention & Expo. This class delivers the core skills you need to thrive in this unique art form. Skip it, and you’ll miss the fundamentals that everything else builds on.
This is not a lecture—it’s an immersive, high-energy experience packed with in-depth exercises in drawing, pastel, watercolor, acrylic, and oil. You’ll dive in, build skills fast, and walk away fired up, confident, and loaded with practical techniques you can use immediately.
$237/ Ticket
May 14th at 7 – 2:30PM
sketchbook, graphite, pen
Carrie Curran is a nationally renowned artist, entrepreneur, teacher and mentor who has been featured in USA Today, Iconic life, Good Morning Arizona, The Luxe List, Az Big Media, The Paradise Valley Independent, The Scottsdale Progress, Live Better in Scottsdale.com, Raising Arizona Kids, and Images Arizona: Az Faces/Az Lifestyles/Az Places. She is the long-term Artist in Residence at the famed Hermosa Inn, rated No. 1 hotel in the Southwest, the No. 8 hotel in the country by Condé Nast Traveler’s Reader’s Choice Awards and Arizona’s No.1 Resort Hotel by Travel + Leisure.
Acrylic
Carrie Curran, a second-generation painter, discovered her love for art as a child, inspired by her mother’s oil painting classes. Her artistic journey included study with renowned artists leading to a distinctive style that combines bold, oversized floral canvases with a deep appreciation for nature and plein air painting. As an Arizona artist, Carrie has made significant contributions to the art community, founding both Creative Color Art Studios and the Youth Academy at Scottsdale Artists’ School. Carrie’s role as Artist in Residence at two iconic Arizona resorts, The Hermosa Inn and The Arizona Biltmore, has furthered her impact on the arts. For over three decades, Carrie’s instruction and mentorship have provided the foundation for professional success in the fine arts to thousands of students. Her artwork is collected and admired by both private and corporate art connoisseurs. Carrie has been a dedicated attendee of the Plein Air Convention & Expo (PACE) since 2014, leading the Basics Course for six years and sharing her expertise with Plein Air Live in 2020 and 2024. At the upcoming PACE 2026 in The Ozarks, she will once again lead the highly anticipated Basics Course.
Oil
Jackie Jones is an highly accomplished and experienced oil painter known for her evocative plein air and studio landscapes and seascapes. Deeply inspired by nature and the traditions of American Impressionism, her work captures light, atmosphere, and a strong sense of place. Jackie paints extensively throughout New England and the American West, and her paintings are held in private and museum collections nationwide. A recipient of many awards, she is a Signature Member of the American Society of Marine Artists and an active member of several national arts organizations. Along with her husband, artist Don Demers, she co-owns Demers Jones Gallery in Rockport, Massachusetts, and co-directs The Outdoor Studio, offering plein air workshops in the U.S. and abroad.
Watercolor
Bill Perkins graduated from Art Center College of Design in 1980 with honors, that same year he had his first solo gallery show in Redondo Beach Calif. based on his plein-air work painted in Mexico. His work was also exhibited at the Laguna Fine Arts Festival. For the next five years he painted steadily with watercolors and oils inspired by his mentorship with Dan McCaw. In 1983 Bill applied to American Artist Magazines Emerging Artist competition. He didn't win but the magazine encouraged him to apply the following year. The rejection inspired him to work harder as a result his work was accepted into the National Watercolor Society's 1984 annual show, and an oil painting was exhibited in the Springville Museum of art's spring salon. Applying to the magazine the following year was also met with rejection because they no longer recognized him as an emerging artist, instead they asked him to write an article in their February travel and education section. The article was based on his three-month plein-air trip through France, Italy, and Spain retracing the steps of the impressionists of the late nineteenth century. The trip was in preparation for a show at the Monterey Museum of art in February 1985. Bill's work was represented by The Esther Wells Collection in Laguna Beach and Shriver Gallery in Taos New Mexico. He began teaching drawing and plein-air watercolor workshops. With the financial recession in late 1985 Bill looked to his second love of movies and storytelling and began working at the Walt Disney Animation Studio but continued his plein-air work on lunch breaks and weekends. Bill began as a layout artist and became an art director helping to forge the renaissance of Disney animation. Outside the studio Bill became a founding member of and traveled with the Plein-Air Painters of America and was entered into Who's Who in California Education in 1987. During the next 37 years Bill worked on over 30 films including Aladdin, Fantasia 2000, Iron Giant, Space Jam, Shrek, Bolt, Tangled, Frozen and Zootopia, Green Eggs and Ham season II, and five Marvel animated series 2021-2023. In 2025 Bill was honored with membership into The Academy of Motion Pictures class of 2025 for his exceptional accomplishments as art director. He currently teaches at Art Center College, retired from animation he is once again pursuing his personal plein-air work. Bill work has been published in more than 12 “Making of” books, Step by Step, Post, Entertainment Weekly, LA Times, American Artist magazine, This Month on the Peninsula, The Enchanted Isle (the story of the Plein air Painters of America on Catalina Island), and Strokes of Genius 5 the best of drawing.
Pastel
An international artist, curator and mentor, Terrilynn has academic training with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree enhanced by Master level studies. She teaches various media for International Online Schools like Artefacto, Pastel Live and Mastrius, her own Patreon, at the international Plein Air Conference and Exhibition, and many pastel and watercolor groups. She is a Master Circle member IAPS [International Association of Pastel Societies], a Signature Member PSA [Pastel Society of America], a Signature member and Vice President of PSME [Pastel Society of Maine]. She exhibits and sells artwork in diverse venues, and has received top awards at juried International exhibits.
Sketching
San Jose, CA-based Suma CM is an award-winning artist and instructor who enjoys working in watercolor, oil, and other media. She has been juried into outdoor painting events including Carmel Art Festival and Frank Bette Alameda Plein Air Paintout. She has taught numerous sketching workshops in the San Francisco Bay Area and is the instructor of "Urban Sketching in 15 Minutes a Day" on Craftsy.com. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Suma has a degree in cultural anthropology with minors in fine arts and psychology as well as an MBA from the Wharton School. She previously served on the Executive Board of UrbanSketchers.org and still serves on its Advisory Board.
