The 10th Annual California Landscape Exhibition and Great California Paint Out will be held September 10, 2011 at the John Natsoulas Gallery. The day-long workshop will feature plein air painting demonstrations by eminent Sacramento Valley landscape painters. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from and paint alongside these artists during the Paint Out session. The work produced by both the artists and attendees will be hung in a one night exhibit and silent auction held that evening at the John Natsoulas Gallery.

One of the most important things to note about California landscape painting, particularly in the Sacramento area, is the influence of Gregory Kondos and Wayne Thiebaud. The significant impact of their local professorships on this year's exhibiting artists can hardly be overlooked. Seen in the work of students like Clay Vorhes and Melissa Chandon, Thiebaud and Kondos' approach to light and form resonates as an intensely original interpretation of what is too easily deemed an antiquated genre. Local artists Pat Mahony, Roy Tellefson, Michael Tompkins, and Boyd Gavin continue to create plein air paintings in this vein, only furthering the reputation and quality of our regional art. Their careers bloomed in the '80s and '90s while painting important areas of the Valley, and have since broadened in scope to include the entirety of the state. In this work, there is evidence of an authentic Americana that only grows more rare with over-population and development. The goal of our exhibition is to avoid the traditional seascapes or views of Yosemite's Half Dome, but rather explore this new imagery in the context of a modern perspective. There is true beauty in the ability to see for miles and miles without interruption, and in the works of these artists, you come to fully comprehend the power and beauty of California's vast landscape.

Guidelines:
A $50 fee allows each artist to attend an all day workshop led by various master plein aire painters. The work made by attendees during the day will be hung in a one evening exhibition held at the spacious John Natsoulas Gallery. Completed pieces will be up for sale at a silent auction, of which you will receive 50% of the sale price. You will have a minimum of one piece juried into the exhibition and a maximum of three. These pieces must be created during the daylong plein aire event. The opening reception is 7-10pm. One image of your work will be included in a catalog which will be available for purchase by the end of September. The festival will pay cover the photography for the work. All work must be delivered for hanging no later than 4:30pm September 10. There will be ten sites in downtown Davis throughout the eastern fork of Putah Creek Arboretum on the University of California, Davis campus where you will be able to paint alongside the participants. You will be able to ask questions and get help and support for you work from the ten master painters. A map will be provided upon morning registration at the John Natsoulas Gallery at 8am. You can also register on Friday, from 1-6pm. There will be a maximum of 100 artists accepted. Acceptance will be determined by the order of registration. First come first serve.

This event will be concurrent with the international plein aire painters “world wide paint out” at various locations around the world.