Annual Kern County Plein Air Painting Festival
April 18-24, 2021
The 2021 Plein Air Festival has been cancelled due to COVID-19.
We are considering alternative program options for either Fall 2021 or Spring 2022.
Thank you for your understanding.
Plein Air: 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 seventh annual Kern County Plein Air Painting Festival will be held April 18 – 24, 2021. It’s a fun and adventure-filled week for participating artists and the general public.
Several of the best artists from the western United States are invited to observe and paint our beloved Kern County “en plein air.” Artists produce an amazing collection of works that depict the diverse landscapes and beautiful scenes from a county unlike any other place on earth.
The general public have the opportunity to meet these talented artists and to watch them paint local scenes. While these artists paint all week, we host three special events for YOU to celebrate their work, including a picnic with artists working on site, a gallery show / artist meet & greet, and a Gala in the Betty Younger Sculpture Garden.
Events Coming soon:
New Date TBD- Click here to attend the Plein Air Picnic
New Date TBD- Click here to attend the Artist Meet & Greet
New Date TBD- Click here to attend the Painting on the Paseo Gala
This year’s participating artists:
Mark Monsarrat
Ellie Wilson
Ariah Boyle
Ellen Howard
Patty Voje
Carol Tarzier
Laurel Buchanan
Charity Anderson
Aaron Cordell Johnson
Durre Waseem
Chris Long
Danny Griego
Ben Young
Kimball Geisler
Our sponsors:
Alizarin Level
Chromium Level
Pat and Robin Paggi
Sheryl and Lou Barbich
Sue and Don Deininger
Mary Mazzei
Ira and Carole Cohen
Cadmium Level
Dianne Hoover
East Fork Partners
John Moore III
Tina Finberg
Nancy and Jim Duncan
Silvia Cattani
Nancy Frick
Patty and Robert Young
Secure Systems
David and Debby Cohen
2019 Kern County Plein Air Festival
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.