ARTISTS INFORMATION

2025 Oceanside Plein Air Festival

Painting Southern California in the Open Air
September 6 - 13, 2025

We are so excited to have you join us for the Oceanside Plein Air Festival!

Take a look below for details on how to have the best experience during the event.

Still have questions? Contact a staff member at pleinair@oma-online.org or call the Museum at (760) 435-3731.

CHECK-IN AND CANVAS STAMPING

Special Festival Check-In Hours at OMA

September 6-11, 8:00am–11:00am
Your first stop, festival participants! Come to OMA during special morning check-in hours to pick up your badge and Welcome Bag, get canvases stamped, get information about local attractions, or use the facilities on the way to a painting location.

OMA is open to the public during our usual hours: 11:00am-5:00pm, Wednesday through Sunday

Keep in mind:

• You only need to check in at OMA for the Festival once.
• You must check in for the Festival and have the surfaces on which you would like to create artwork stamped prior to beginning your artwork.
• You may get all surfaces stamped at one time, or return to a stamping station multiple times, with no limits to the number of surfaces you may have stamped.
• You may also get blank painting surfaces stamped at any Festival workshop or paint out
• Artists will be asked to sign a waiver accepting the rules and guidelines upon check-in

ARTWORK AND SUPPLIES

• Bring your own art supplies and surfaces on which to create artwork. There are limited locations to purchase supplies near Oceanside.
• Maximum 2D size: 24" x 36" not including frame
• Maximum 3D size: 24" x 24" x 24".
• We encourage participants to create small works (under 10" on each side), which are often collector favorites.
• Printed names must be on the back of the artwork, whether you've signed or not.
• Artists must bring their own easels/display furniture when participating in Easel Sales.
• Artwork may be in any style (Impressionism, Realism, Abstract, etc.)
• Artwork in any media is allowed—non-traditional is encouraged! Contact Katie Dolgov, katie@oma-online.org, to discuss your non-traditional submissions (media other than painting or drawing).
• We request that at least one artwork must be painted in Oceanside.
• We use the honor code to ensure artists complete 90-100% of each artwork out of doors and on location. If there is any concern that a larger percentage of your artwork was completed in the studio, you will be asked to provide progression snapshots of your work being completed en plein air.

PLEIN AIR PAINTING HEALTH AND SAFETY TIPS

Personal Safety

• Stay hydrated and have water with you at all times
• Wear a sunhat, use an umbrella, or set up in a shady place
• Wear sunscreen and insect repellent. Pack more with you, just in case.
• Report any serious incidents to an OMA team member
• First aid kits will be available at the museum and check-in tables at all scheduled painting event

Respect Your Environment

• Do not block trails, sidewalks, or other areas of foot/bike traffic
• Do not dump your paint, water, turps, or any other substance
• Everything you bring in must leave with you

Things You Might Need

• Parking funds/quarters: Parking in Oceanside with signage indicating a 2-hour limit is strictly enforced. There is unrestricted parking on the street in nearby neighborhoods and the structure on Civic Center and Ditmar.
• A chair
• A hat
• Art supplies and surfaces to create artwork on (such as canvas or paper)
• Sturdy shoes and comfortable clothing

PROGRAMS & EVENTS FOR ARTISTS

Keep in mind: 

• “Paint Outs” refer to non-instructed group painting programs. These programs are exclusively for registered Festival artists.
• “Workshops” require the purchase of an additional ticket. These programs are exclusively for registered Festival artists.
• Arrive early to all scheduled Festival programs to find parking and walk to your meeting point
• Please check in at the OMA tent at all workshops and paint out events that you attend, and be prepared to present your Festival badge

On Friday, September 5, OMA is closing at 1pm for a venue rental. A staff member will be available to answer questions at OMA or over the phone at (760) 435-3721. If you’re in town on Thursday evening check out the night market just one block from the museum!

QUICK PAINT CHALLENGE GUIDELINES

Join us for the Quick Paint Challenge, a timed open-air painting event open to all festival registrants taking place on Tuesday, September 9, 10:00am-12:00pm at Mission San Luis Rey, 4050 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92057.

• Check in begins at 9:00am
• Painting start and stop times will be indicated by an air horn blast
• All canvases must be stamped prior to creating artwork. Check canvas stamping hours.
• Come early to select your preferred painting spot. All areas are open to artists excluding inside the church and cemetery.
• The public will be invited to observe, but walk-on participation is prohibited.
• Maximum size: you are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to create artwork no taller than 12"
• Judging will take place at the OMA tent immediately after the painting concludes. If you would like to have your work considered for the Mission San Luis Rey Quick Paint Award please plan to stay after the event through the judging.
• Artwork created during the event may be taken to the Museum for inclusion in the Quick Paint Sale scheduled for Tuesday, July 18.
• Artwork does NOT need to be framed unless you chose to submit it for Festival exhibition jurying
• You must pick up your work by the end of the Festival.

SALES

• Artists receive a 50% commission on the sale of their work.
• Tax of 8.25% will apply to all sales at check out, to be paid by the buyer.
• Artwork does not need to be marked for sale, NFS is allowed.
• All artwork produced during the Festival may be sold throughout the week if you choose.
• At scheduled programs, all sales are to take place at OMA or through an OMA staff member.
• We rely on the honor system if you chose to sell any artwork “off the easel” during independent free painting—please submit a purchase receipt or report any sale transactions to an OMA staff member
• No sales of merchandise or street vending is allowed at any time or at any location.
• If artwork for sale/on display at OMA does not sell, it must be picked up by the artist at the end of the sales opportunity. If the artist is no longer in the area, they will be responsible for shipping fees.
• Any artwork remaining at OMA more than 60 days after the close of the sale or display it was included in will be considered an unrestricted donation to the Museum.
• OMA will aim to disburse all artist commissions earned during the festival within 30 days of the end of the Festival (before October 15).
  Commissions for sales from the exhibition will be disbursed within 30 days of the sale.

Big Plein Air Easel Sale
September 13, 10:00am-3:00pm
705 Pier View Way, Oceanside, CA 92054; The parking lot across the street from OMA

• To participate in the Easel Sale artists must provide their own easels and other display racks that can be set up within a 3’ x 3’ display area
• At 9:00am artists can arrive at the sale tent to set up their easel/sales display.
• Easel locations are first-come-first-served.
• Please make sure every artwork has a price.
• OMA staff and volunteers and a paid security guard will be present to process sales.
• Artists may stay with their artwork or attend the concurrent VIP Exhibition Pre Sale and Plein Air Festival Awards Celebration.

ARTWORK SUBMISSION & JURYING

• Artwork being submitted for jurying is due Thursday, September 11, 12:00-3:00pm at Oceanside Museum of Art and selection will be the same day.
• General Artists - Two (2) artworks can be submitted for awards and jurying.
• Featured and Select Artists - Three (3) artworks can be submitted for awards and jurying.
• Festival stamp MUST BE VISIBLE on the back of the finished artwork - If the stamp will be obscured after framing, please provide photos or video of the work with the stamp visible being framed
• Artwork submitted for exhibition jurying must include hanging hardware (wires or D rings attached to frames or a sturdy substrate).
• Unframed canvases must be trimmed or wrapped with a finished edge.
• Works on paper MUST be framed.

Submission Procedures:

• A specific time window for submitting artwork for jurying and judging will be assigned on each artist’s name badge provided at check-in for the festival.
• Artists will receive four labels, two (2) per artwork. Artists will add one label on the back of the artwork and the second label will be given to an OMA Artwork Intake Person to include with the artist's file.

Timeline:

• Friday, September 12, 10:00am Artists will be notified of their artwork jurying status by this time
• Friday, September 12, 11:00am-4:00pm Any artwork not chosen for the exhibition may be picked up
• Saturday, September 13, 10:00am The 2025 Plein Air Festival Juried Exhibition will open with a private viewing and VIP Exhibition Pre-Sale. Tickets are available here.
• Saturday, September 13, 11:00am-12:00pm Celebrate the award winners with us! Register here for the Awards Celebration. All artists will be on the complimentary admission list. Select and Featured artists will have a complimentary +1 to the event.
  2025

PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL JURIED EXHIBITION & SALE
September 13, 2025–January 11, 2026

Each festival participant is invited to complete multiple artworks en plein air during the course of the week, but ultimately, they are only able to submit two artworks to be considered for the awards competition and exhibition jurying. Approximately 40-50 artworks will be juried into what is sure to be a stunning showcase of original plein air works of art. Judging will be based on the artist’s mastery of the medium, quality of composition, and the use of perspective and color. In addition to outstanding ability in those areas, the artwork is assessed on intangible qualities such as its meaning, appeal, beauty, and the overall impact and expressiveness of the work.

This will also be a rare opportunity to view and collect artworks from prominent plein air painters such as the Featured Artists and Selected Artists

Purchasing Artwork from the Exhibition

• Artwork chosen for the juried exhibition will be available for purchase starting at the VIP Exhibition Pre-Sale September 13, 10:00am, and then to the public at 11:00am.
• If you see an artwork you like in the exhibition, visit the front desk to purchase. Prices will be listed on the artwork wall label.
• Check or cash payments must be made in person to process the transaction and cannot be made by phone or email.
• Artwork will not be placed on hold.
• All sales are final. No refunds will be available for any artwork.
• Artwork must stay at OMA for the remainder of the exhibition and can be picked up after January 12, 2026. If artwork deliveries need to be scheduled, the owner of the artwork will cover shipment and delivery costs.