2020 Annual Kern County Plein Air Painting Festival
April 20 – 25, 2020
Plein Air Painting: Painting on-site, or the “en plein air,” a French term meaning “in the open air.” Also, a painting done outside rather than in a studio.
The 6th Annual Kern County Plein Air Painting Festival will be held during the week of April 20 – 25, 2020. A fun and adventure filled week is guaranteed for all participating artists as well as members of the general public.
The festival is a fine arts celebration of Kern County, which has a richness of place, history, and the arts, where kindness, creativity, and generosity prevail.
Fifteen of the best artists from the western US are invited to paint Kern County. Each year’s artists produce an amazing collection of works that depict the diverse landscapes and beautiful scenes from a county unlike any other place on earth.
Artists are given many options of different terrains and subjects to paint throughout Kern County. The events culminate with the Award and Sales Gala, which is a juried show and sales event all rolled into one.
Members of the general public get their chances throughout the week to meet the artists and to watch them paint local scenes. Having the opportunity to bid on a painting and purchase the art at the Sales Gala makes it all the more special.
This event is by invitation only. All interested artists are welcome to email David.gordon@kernarts.org, and submit work samples, website, and list of exhibits and awards. Event details will be sent.
The List of 2020 Participating Artists:
Ellen Howard ellenhowardart.com @ellenhowardart
Durre Waseem @waseemdurre
Carol Tarzier www.tarzier.com @carol_tarzier
Ellie Warner Wilson artellie.com @ellieheartart
Ken Spencer jkenspencer.com @jkenspencer
Ariah Myles Boyle
Charity Anderson
Chris Long @long_painter www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/christopher-long-7051
Danny Griego dannygriegoart.com @danny.griego
Aaron Cordell Johnson cordellart.com @aaroncordell
Melanie Thompson melaniethompsonart.com @melaniethompsonart
Michael Chamberlain @chamberlainpaintings chamberlainpaintings.com
Laurel Buchanan laurelbuchanan.com
Patty Voje Patriciavoje.com @pattyvoje
Eric Jacobsen jacobsenfineart.com @jocabsenstudio
Judge
Kim Lordier kimspastels@aol.com #kimlordier
2019 Annual Kern County Plein Air Painting Festival
APRIL 8 – 13, 2019
Schedule of Events
4/7/19 Artists arrive
4/8, 8 a.m. -11:00 a.m, – Kick off Artist’s Morning Reception, Kern County Museum, grab a Covenant coffee and meet the artists and watch them paint at the Kern County Museum. Tickets for the Gala on 4/13 will be available for purchase, $45.
4/9, 15 professional artists will be painting throughout Kern County.
4/11, 2 p.m.-5:30 p.m. – Plein Air Downtown, watch the artists paint downtown around 19th and Eye.
4/11, 5:30 p.m. – 7p.m. – Bakersfield Art Association sponsored Artist Meet and Greet. Meet the painters over a glass of wine at the Bakersfield Art Association (1607 19th St.) and view their paintings of downtown.
4/13, 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Awards and Sales Gala, Betty Younger Sculpture Garden, 1330 Truxtun Ave.
4/15-5/30/19 – Plein Air paintings that don’t sell at the Gala will be on display at the Access Center 1330 Truxtun Ave.
2019 Participating Artists
Patricia McGeeney PatriciaMcGeeney.com @pmcgeeney
Dan Schultz DanSchultzFIneArt.com @danschultzart
Wendy Brayton BraytonArt.com @braytonart
Aaron Cordell Johnson cordellart.com @aaroncordell
Brandon Gonzales brandon-gonzales.com @brandon_g45
Daniel Sauerbrey @danielsauerbrey
Ellen Howard ellenhowardart.com @ellenhowardart
Michael Chamberlain chamberlainpaintings.com @chamberlainpaintings
Nate Ross instagram.com/n8drss/
Lindsey Kustusch LindseyKustusch.com @lkustusch
Matt Sterbenz msterbenz.com @sterbenzart
Melanie Thompson melaniethompsonart.com @melaniethompsonart
Kadin Goldberg kadingoldberg.com @kadin.goldberg
Durre Waseem Facebook.com/durre.waseem @waseemdurre
Thank You to Our 2019 Sponsors
Raskind Foundation
Robin and Patrick Paggi
East Fork Partners, LLC
BMW of Bakersfield
Thomas Maxwell
Insurica
Jack and Carolyn Pandol
Kevin and Judy McCarthy
Kern County Museum
Tejon Ranch
John Moore III
Barbich
Grimmway Enterprises, Inc.
Don and Sue Deininger
Fred and Ginny Hamisch
Covenant Coffee
2019 Kern County Plein Air Festival photos
First place winner Durre Waseem with juror Paul Kratter at the Awards and Sales Gala. Photo by Marsalh Musaad. 
Artist Durre Waseem’s 1st place painting, titled Farm Works. This was painted at the Kern County Museum on April 8, 2019. Photo by Runa Lemminn
Artists (l to r) Kadin Goldberg, Ellen Howard, and Dan Schultz at the Artist Meet and Greet at Bakersfield Art Association on April 11, 2019. Photo by Runa Lemminn
Dan Schultz’s 2nd place winner at the Gala, titled Sycamore Sunset. Dan painted this out at Hart Park on April 9, 2019 in Bakersfield.
Photo by Dan Schultz.
Artists Lindsey Kustusch and Nate Ross were painting beside Comanche Drive in Bakersfield on April 9,2019. Photo by Runa Lemminn.
Spring in the Canyon, by artist Nate Ross, won Artist’s Choice at the Gala on April 13, 2019. Photo by Nate Ross
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One of Artist Daniel Sauerbrey’s paintings, which sold at the Gala. Photo by Marsalh Musaad.
Artists Dan Sauerbrey (l) and Aaron Cordell Johnson look at paintings displayed at the Gala on April 13, 2019. Photo by Marsalh Musaad.
Artist Melanie Thompson had some curious visitors while painting at Tejon Ranch. Photo by Melanie Thompson.
Artist Melanie Thompson stands beside her 3rd place award winning painting at the Award and Sales Gala on April 13, 2019. Photo by Marsalh Musaad.
Plein Air artist Matt Sterbenz’s painting, titled Tejon Poppies. Photo by Marsalh Musaad.
One of artist Wendy Brayton’s paintings (sold) from the Gala, titled Woolgrowers. Photo by Marsalh Musaad.
Aaron Cordell Johnson discusses his painting technique with a passer by in downtown Bakersfield on April 11, 2019. Photo by Runa Lemminn
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Plein Air artists (l to r) Matt Sterbenz, Patty McGeeney, and Melanie Johnson paint in downtown Bakersfield on April 11, 2019. Photo by Runa Lemminn.
One of artist Patricia McGeeney’s paintings, titled Tejon Cows. Photo by Marsalh Musaad.
Artist Aaron Cordell Johnson’s paintings, . Photo by Marsalh Musaad. [/caption]
Plein Air artist Brandon Gonzales discusses his art with Gala attendees on April 13, 2019. Photo by Marsalh Musaad.
One of artist Brandon Gonzales’s paintings at the Gala on April 13, 2019. The title of the painting is Morning Light. Photo by Marsalh Musaad.
One of Ellen Howard’s paintings from the Gala, which she painted on Moore Farms earlier in the week. The title of this work is I Want Moore. Photo by Marsalh Musaad.
David Gordon, Executive Director for the Arts Council of Kern and artist Lindsey Kustusch walk at the Kern County Museum on Monday, April 8, 2019. The KCM was the site of the 1st artist meet and greet for the general public that week. Photo by Runa Lemminn.
Artist Michael Chamberlain gets ready to paint in the doorway of a historical building on the grounds of the Kern County Museum on April 8, 2019. Photo by Runa Lemminn.
2019 SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
VIRIDIAN LEVEL: $20,000- Lead sponsor on all promotional materials including all marketing.
- Tickets for 16 to Artist Meet-and-Greet and Wine Reception with first opportunity to purchase work.
- 2 tables of 8 at Award Sales & Gala.
- Listed in Gala program, table tents and welcoming signage.
- Podium recognition at Gala.
2019 SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
ALIZARIN LEVEL: $10,000- Sponsor on all promotional materials including all marketing.
- Tickets for 8 to Artist Meet-and-Greet and Wine Reception with first opportunity to purchase work.
- Table for 8 at Award Sales & Gala.
- Listed in Gala program, table tents and welcoming signage.
- Podium recognition at Gala.
2019 SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
VENETIAN LEVEL: $5,000- Sponsor on all promotional materials including all marketing.
- Tickets for 4 to Artist Meet-and-Greet and Wine Reception with first opportunity to purchase work.
- Tickets for 8 at Award Sales & Gala.
- Listed in Gala program, table tents and welcoming signage.
- Podium recognition at Gala.
2019 SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
CHROMIUM LEVEL: $1,000- Sponsor on all promotional materials including all marketing.
- Tickets for 2 to Artist Meet-and-Greet and Wine Reception with first opportunity to purchase work.
- Tickets for 4 to Awards Sales gala.
- Listed in Gala program, table tents and welcoming signage.
2019 SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
CADMIUM LEVEL: $1,000- Sponsor on all promotional materials including all marketing.
- Tickets for 2 to Artist Meet-and-Greet and Wine Reception with first opportunity to purchase work.
- Tickets for 2 to Award Sales & Gala.
- Listed in Gala program
Previous Festivals
2018 Participating Artists
Patricia McGeeney
David Dibble
Paul Kratter
Carolyn Hesse-Low
Dan Schultz
Wendy Brayton
Rita Pacheco
Jim Wodark
Brandon Gonzales
Kim VanDerHoek
Danny Griego
Anette Power
Scott W. Prior
Nate Ross
Lindsey Kustusch
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Robert Raskind Charitable Foundation
BMW of Bakersfield
Advance Beverage
Lou and Sheryl Barbich
Ira and Carole Cohen – UBS Financial
Don and Sue Deininger
Andrew and Beth Pandol
Stinson’s Stationers
East Fork Partners
Sylvia Cattani
Melissa Fortune, CPA
Cathy Bennett – Klein DeNatale Goldner
Keith and Jennifer Gardiner
Dianne Hoover
Kern Valley State Prison
Insurica – Walter Mortensen Insurance Agency
Wayne and Ginny Kirschenman – Kirschenman Enterprises
Tracy Kiser – H. Walker’s Clothing
Thomas Maxwell – Keathley, Maxwell & Antongiovanni
Pat and Robin Paggi
Robin and Steven Schopler Charitable Fund
2018 SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
VIRIDIAN LEVEL: $20,000- Lead sponsor on all promotional materials including all marketing.
- Tickets for 16 to Artist Meet-and-Greet and Wine Reception with first opportunity to purchase work.
- 2 tables of 8 at Award Sales & Gala.
- Listed in Gala program, table tents and welcoming signage.
- Podium recognition at Gala.
2018 SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
ALIZARIN LEVEL: $10,000- Sponsor on all promotional materials including all marketing.
- Tickets for 8 to Artist Meet-and-Greet and Wine Reception with first opportunity to purchase work.
- Table for 8 at Award Sales & Gala.
- Listed in Gala program, table tents and welcoming signage.
- Podium recognition at Gala.