2026 Suffolk Virginia Plein Air Festival

The Suffolk Plein Air Festival is a dynamic, week-long event where juried artists from across the country and internationally gather to paint the beautiful scenery of Suffolk, Virginia. Artists capture the city's unique waterways, historic landmarks, farmlands, and cityscapes "en plein air," or outdoors.

The festival culminates with a "Wet Paint Sale & Soirée," where patrons can purchase the freshly created artwork, often competing for prestigious cash prizes. A "Paint the Taste" QuickDraw competition, open to all ages and abilities, takes place during the annual Taste of Suffolk Downtown Street Festival, inviting the community to join in the spontaneous art creation.

The City of Suffolk, Virginia is gearing up for the 5th Annual Suffolk Plein Air Festival, September 7-12, 2026.  
The SPAF 2026 CASH AWARDS will be given for the Best In Show, $3,000, 2nd Place, $1,000, along with 3rd Place, $500. Additionally, there are monetary awards given for Best: Historic, Waterfront, Farmland, Rural, & Cityscape paintings.
   
2026 Suffolk Plein Air Festival Schedule of events:
Monday, September 7, 6-9 pm
 - Artists check-in and enjoy a "Meet & Greet" with a casual reception for artists to meet each other and housing hosts to meet their house guests. Canvases will be stamped and all information will be handed out during this time. Please make arrangements if you cannot attend that evening, and we can set up a Tuesday morning in-processing for you. 

September 8-10
Juried Plein Air Artists paint Suffolk Virginia's historic downtown, pristine waterways, and rural farmlands.

Thursday, September 10
Plein Air Painting Workshop 
Open registration for participants to explore the En Plein Air technique. Optional for juried artists, and open to the public. Workshop TBD

Thursday, September 10, 7-9pm
​Wet Paint Sale Artwork Drop off. Participating artists can drop off their pieces to be juried and sold the next evening for the Wet Paint Sale and Soiree. All artwork must be framed with hanging wire and ready to sell. 

Friday, September 11, 8-noon
Artwork drop-off optional. It is imperative to drop off your pieces as early as possible. 
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On Friday, September 11 from 6:00 - 9:30 PM, artists and patrons will gather at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts for the much-anticipated 'Wet Paint Sale & Soiree'. Attendees will have the chance to meet the artists, view their new artwork and purchase an incredibly special piece of Suffolk themed artwork to adorn their home or business. 'Wet Paint Sale & Soiree' tickets include scrumptious food, an open bar, and live music.

On Saturday, September 12 from 11- 1 PM, in conjunction with Suffolk's annual ‘Taste of Suffolk’ Downtown Street Festival, Youth, ages 10-17, and Adults of ALL abilities are invited to paint outside, ‘en plein air’, during the “PAINT the TASTE” event. This is a chance for novice to experienced painters to try their hand at plein air painting. The QuickDraw format is extremely exciting ~ the goal is to quickly produce an original piece of artwork in only 120 minutes! Prizes will be awarded, and “PAINT the TASTE” Artists are encouraged to sell their Suffolk Plein Air artwork to the interested crowds during the 'Taste of Suffolk'.  

The success of Suffolk Plein Air Festival is a tribute to the vision and collaboration of the Suffolk community. So many wonderful people have opened their homes to host some of our out-of-town artists for the week. Others have offered their properties as locations for the artists to paint. Generous business and patron sponsors stepped up to ensure the Arts are accessible for all, bringing together artists of all skill levels and ages – younger and older – providing rich experiences for the community at large.

2026 Juror: Lynn Mehta

Known for her fluid and expressive oil paintings, Lynn Mehta captures the essence of her subjects through a rich interplay of color and texture. Inspired by the world around her, she finds beauty in both the ordinary and extraordinary, drawing on elements like vibrant flowers, crashing waves, and weathered farm buildings, old boats, and natural landscapes to create visual stories.
A Virginia-based artist, Lynn grew up along the Pacific Ocean in California, where her passion for painting began. Encouraged by her mother, an artist herself, Lynn pursued her talents at an early age and went on to earn an art degree from San Diego State University. Her love of the outdoors and travel, shaped by childhood experiences on the beach, backpacking trips, and living in India, continues to inspire her work.
Lynn is a Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society and the American Society of Marine Artists. Her work is featured in galleries, books, magazines worldwide, private collections, and public collections, including the Maryhill Museum of Art in Washington, the National Institutes of Health, and Acadia National Park Artists-in-Residency.

The Suffolk Plein Air Festival committee invites you to apply to participate in the 2026 Suffolk Plein Air Festival competition and wet paint sale and exhibit. The Wet Paint Sale and Awards Soiree will be held on Friday, September 11, 2026 from 6-9 pm. Up to five (5) works will be accepted for display and judging in the artist's preferred medium. The Suffolk Plein Air Festival is hosted by the Suffolk Art League and the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, and Suffolk Tourism. 

Works are for sale unless specified by the artist. There is a 40% commission on all art sales. All unsold artworks will remain on display for purchase until 3 PM the final festival day, Saturday, September 12, 2026. Artists are responsible for removing all artwork by 5 pm on the closing day. The application fee is $50, non-refundable. 

• Up to five works produced during the event will be displayed and judged.
• Two-dimensional works must be framed or gallery wrapped, and ready to hang with wire and screw eyes.
• Participation is open only to those artists selected by the judge to participate in the festival.
• Submitting the CAFE application indicates your intention to participate, if selected.
• Submit at least three (4) images of your work to be reviewed for consideration.
• Artists must submit a 150 (or fewer) biography, written in the 3rd person, to include art education, awards, etc. The artist's vision statement may also be included.

Participating artists may request free lodging by the May 1 deadline. 

All artists who are over the age of 18 are encouraged to apply who work in all medium types. All artwork must be created during the week of the festival. Each piece will be for sale unless specified by the artist and must have an official "Suffolk Plein Air Festival" stamp on the back in order to qualify for the awards and wet paint sale.