For 12 years now, the best plein air artists around have been participating in the famous Laguna Beach invitational. And who wouldn’t want to paint here??

The Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational (translated “in the open air” meaning all painting is done outdoors) is one of the coolest high-brow events we’ve got going on, especially since these amazing artists let us watch everything they do as they create artistic masterpieces on the cliffs and inside secret trove areas of Laguna Beach. I wrote about this last year and posted a gob of photos – and I’ll be one of the first to head out again on Oct. 10th.

Oct 10 – Paint Out at the Montage – 50 artists set up shop all along the Montage’s Treasure Island Park and get to work. It starts at 10:00 a.m.

Oct 11-Oct 15 – It’s a Treasure Hunt as we all troupe around town to find these plein air painters in action in every nook and cranny of Laguna Beach.

Oct 16 – The Quick Draw event at Heisler Park is quite a crowd-pleaser as the 50 artists have just 2 hours to complete a new masterpiece to add to their week’s collection of work

Oct 16, evening – The Soiree and Sale allows ticketed attendees the first chance to view and purchase their favorite art work, created that very week. Tickets for the event are here: Laguna Art Museum Soiree

Then, on Sunday, Oct 17th, if you miss the Soiree, head on down to the Laguna Art Museum at 11:00 a.m. to find and buy any number of remaining treasures.

Given that we were founded as an art community in the first place, the Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational is such a great nod to Laguna’s roots. It’s a great and inspiring week – it might even move you away from those paint-by-numbers you’ve always felt relegated to. Mark your calendars now!