| foothills plein air festival
Wednesday, October 11 to Saturday, October 14, 2023
Join us at the second annual Foothills Plein Air Festival, a four-day celebration of the stunning natural beauty of the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in October, when the autumn colors are at their peak. Festival activities take place at the charming Grassy Creek Vineyard & Winery and in Historic Downtown Elkin, a renowned trail town located in the heart of the Yadkin Valley. We extend our invitation to both novice and experienced plein air artists, art enthusiasts, and the general public!
Festival events include Individual Painting Excursions to various picturesque local venues from Wednesday to Friday. On Wednesday evening, there will be a People’s Choice & Curator’s Choice Opening Reception at The Wisdom Table in downtown Elkin. This event doubles as an artist check-in and social.
The festival culminates Saturday with a morning Youth Paint Out and Adult QuickDraw Competition and afternoon Fresh Paint Sale, with food trucks and live music performances scheduled throughout the event. Every attendee, including artists and their guests, will have the opportunity to cast one (1) vote in the People's Choice selection. The winners will have the chance to showcase their plein air artwork at our third plein air festival.
We would like to express our gratitude to the Surry County TDA for their generous support!
Artists may join and paint during the festival for FREE. Only artists vending at the Fresh Paint Sale at the close of the festival need to follow the link below to complete registration. Accommodation packages are ONLY for artists participating in the Fresh Paint Sale on Saturday.
| have an adventure |
click on explore elkin for information about restaurants and accommodations.
| itinerary
-
| DAY ONE | Wednesday, October 11
1 | 2022 PEOPLE’S CHOICE & CURATOR’S CHOICE EXHIBIT | OPENING RECEPTION | 6-9 PM |
The Wisdom Table 101 E Main St, Downtown Elkin, NC
walking distance to all downtown Elkin has to offer; entrees and small plates available after 5:30 PM
Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating art and talent in the heart of Historic Downtown Elkin!
The People's Choice & Curator's Choice Exhibit is here, featuring breathtaking works by talented North Carolina plein air artists.Doubling as the Foothills Plein Air Festival Opening & Artist's Social, this is also a great opportunity to connect with all ten of the incredible North Carolina artists participating in this year's event in advance of Saturday's Fresh Paint Sale.
The event promises a vibrant display of completed landscapes along with process sketches skillfully rendered by the 2022 People's Choice Award Winners:
- Lyudmila Tomova Clark (oil and watercolor)
- Manny Maldonado (acrylic and digital)
- Patricia Sweet (oil and watercolor).
We are also proud to introduce our 2022 Curator's Choice Award Winner:
- Katie Hallahan (oil and chalk pastel)
With styles ranging from classical realism to contemporary urban sketch, this dynamic group exhibition is sure to delight and inspire.
Explore the beauty of local art, mingle with fellow art enthusiasts, and enjoy a speciality selection of beverages and entrees from The Wisdom Table.
The exhibit will be on display during normal business hours at The Wisdom Table until Friday, December 15, 2023.
2 | ARTIST CHECK-IN & SOCIAL | 6-9 PM |
Artist welcome packets and canvas stamping available here
-
| DAY TWO & THREE | Thursday, October 12 & Friday, October 13
1 | FIND YOUR TRAIL | SOLO EXCURSIONS |
Artists explore and capture the beauty of the Yadkin Valley in preparation for Saturday’s Fresh Paint Sale.
Driving distance is listed from Elkin, NC 28621
Suggested Local Scenes
The Reeves Theatre & Café 0 miles
Elkin Municipal Park 0 miles (the Overmountain Victory Trail and the Elkin & Allegheny Rail Trail have trailheads at the park)
Sweeping Vistas & Landscapes
Stone Mtn. State Park 14 miles
Shore-Styers Mill Park 25 miles
Pilot Mtn. State Park 28 miles
Kerr Scott Dam & Reservoir 28 miles
Hanging Rock State Park 44 miles
Historic Sites & Gardens
Horne Creek Living Historical Farm 29 miles
Reynolda House Museum of American Art & Historic Gardens 45 miles
Old Salem Museums & Gardens 45 miles
Mabry Mill 57 miles
Local Livestock
Crooked Creek Highlands, 14 miles. 4147 Somers Rd, Hamptonville, NC 27020, USA (Fluffy Highland Cows) Friday, October 13 at 9 am
Klondike Horse Sanctuary, 4 miles from downtown located on the main festival complex. 122 Chatham Cottage Lane, State Road, NC 28676 (Horses will be in the large pasture visible from Klondike Road throughout the festival)
-
| DAY FOUR | Saturday, October 14
1 | ADULT QUICKDRAW | 9-11 AM | (White Barn at Grassy Creek)
Grassy Creek Vineyard 235 Chatham Cottage Ln. State Rd. NC 28676 (restroom access unavailable before 10:00 AM)
QuickDraw competition judged by an independent local artist for cash prizes; only registered festival artists may participate.
1 | OPEN AIR ART FESTIVAL & FRESH PAINT SALE | 12-6 PM |
Fresh Paint Sale & People’s Choice voting opens
FREE general admission
2 | FOOD & BEVERAGE | 12-5 PM |
Wraps Around the World food truck
Grassy Creek Vineyard tasting room offers wine, beer, non-alcoholic beverages, and build-your-own charcuterie
3 | LIVE MUSIC | 2-5 PM |
Live music by Anna Mertson
4 | PEOPLE’S CHOICE & CURATOR’S CHOICE AWARDS | 5:30 PM |
Voting closes at 5:30 PM
People’s Choice winners announced shortly after voting closes
| festival artists
Click any image below to familiarize yourself with the artists participating in the Foothills Plein Air Festival.
| lyudmila tomova
| katie hallahan (exhibiting artist)
| diane knesovich
| seneca leonard
| manny maldonado (exhibiting artist)
| elbert shubert
| sherry smith
| laurie basham
| patricia sweet (exhibiting artist)
| maryjo gunner