Desert Plein Air Prospectus

PROSPECTUS

California Desert Plein Air Festival

Thurs, Jan 15 to Sun, Feb 1, 2026

Headquarters: Artists Center

72-567 Highway 111

Palm Desert, California

Sponsored by:

City of Palm Desert

Palm Springs Life Magazine

You are invited to participate in our 5th Annual California Desert Plein Air Festival to be held at the Artists Center in Palm Desert, California. There are three separate thematic categories and opportunities to be selected for inclusion in the overall exhibition. You have the potential to exhibit artwork in both Category 2 and Category 3.

You must be a member of the Artists Council to apply for any of these categories.

(This requirement applies if you live within 60 miles of Artists Center.)

To join the Artists Council, please go to: https://www.artistscouncil.com/join

Category 1. Featured VIP Artists: Studio paintings - Submit by Saturday, November 15, 2025!

By Invitation Only… must be included on this approved list:

Geoffrey Allen Peggy Immel Elaine Mathews

Kyle Buckland Jackie Jones Lisa Mozzini-McDill

John Budicin Mark Kerckhoff David Orrin Smith

Don Demers Paul Kratter Barbara Tapp

Ellen Howard Kim Lordier Durre Waseem

Category 1: Entry link sent to Featured VIP Artists only.

Entry fee (1 painting to be entered): $45

Category 2. Desert Landscape/Cityscape (all deserts acceptable)

Submit by Tuesday, December 23, 2025, by 4:00 pm (PST).

Juried exhibition of studio paintings. This is a traditional 2D painting competition that

allows mixed media.

Not Eligible: Photography, digital, AI-generated or 3D art.

Category 2: READ THE REQUIREMENTS BELOW, Then click HERE.

Entry fee (may submit 1 or 2 paintings for consideration): $45 for each painting

Category 3. California Desert Plein Air Festival Competition.

Submit by Monday, January 5, 2026....but only the first 50 entries will be accepted!

Category 3: READ THE REQUIREMENTS BELOW, Then click HERE.

Entry Fee: Desert Plein Air Member: $50

Non-DPAA Member: $75

FESTIVAL CHAIRPERSON: Diane Moore, DPAA Founder and Board President

Desert Plein Air Association

CURATOR: Steven Biller, Editorial Director

Desert Publications Inc.

THE JURORS: TBD

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

IMPORTANT DATES

Tuesday, December 23 at 4 pm (PST) Category 2:

Last day of Desert Landscape/Cityscape Submissions

Monday, January at 5 at Midnight (PST) Category 3: California Desert Plein Air Competition –

Last day of Registration (Max 50 entries)

Wednesday, January 7 Artist notification of acceptance in Category 2

Saturday, Jan 10 - Tuesday, Jan 13 Category 3: Plein Air Competition artists check-in and

substrate stamped at Artists Center, and Paint-Outs:

*Saturday, Jan. 10, 8am Paint Plein Air at Santa Rosa/San Jacinto Visitors Center

51500 CA-Hwy 74, Palm Desert

*Sunday, Jan. 11, 8am El Paseo Shopping and Business District

On El Paseo between CA-74 & San Luis Rey, Palm Desert

*Monday, Jan. 12, 8am Ironwood Park

47800 Chia, Dr., Palm Desert

*Tuesday, Jan 13, 8am The Living Desert Zoo

47900 Portola Ave., Palm Desert

Wednesday, January 14, 8-11 am Delivery of all Paintings (All 3 categories)

Thursday, January 15 Exhibition opens 10am – 4pm

Thursday, January 15, 5pm -7pm Reception/Awards 5pm-7pm

Sunday, February 1, 2 pm Exhibition closes

Sunday, February 1, 2pm-4 pm Art pickup

Prizes for Each Category

2026 Prize Awards: Total $15,000

Category 1: VIP Artists

Best of Show: $2,000

1st Place $1,500

2nd Place $1,000

3rd Place $ 500

Category 2: Studio Desert Landscape

Best of Show $2,000

1st Place $1,000

2nd Place $750

3rd Place $250

Category 3: Plein Air Competition

Non-VIP: VIP only:

Best of Show: $2,000 Best of Show: $1,000

1st Place: $1,000 1st Place: $ 750

2nd Place: $ 750 2nd Place: $ 250

3rd Place: $ 250

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Artwork pricing: All entries must be for sale. Proceeds from the sale will be split 50-50 between the artist and the AC/DPAA
A description of the work will be required for each piece you submit. Describe your artwork carefully. Once a piece of work is submitted, NO CHANGES CAN BE MADE (max. 100 words).
Artwork Size: No limitation on size (all categories).
Artwork on paper must be protected by glass or Plexiglass.
Artwork on canvas wrap or board must be finished on the edges.
Unframed artwork must be at least 1.5” deep.
Artwork must be ready for installation, securely wired for hanging.
No saw-tooth hangers, ceiling mounts, or moving parts may be used.
Artwork must be original in concept, design, execution and submitted by the artist/maker; created independently (i.e., not under direct supervision of an instructor); not commercially manufactured or reproduced or incorporating any item that uses commercially available molds or patterns; not previously exhibited at any Artists Council exhibition.
Category 3: Plein Air Competition: Paintings must be on visible stamped substrate. If backing to your painting covers the stamp, please cut a hole to expose the stamp.
Artwork must remain at the Artists Center during the entire exhibition Once accepted into the exhibition, artwork may not be withdrawn or substituted. If artwork is sold, and buyer requests taking painting before February 1, 2026, this will be allowed (artwork’s name tag remains with red dot).
Accepted artwork must be reserved by the artist and not physically shown elsewhere; the price for artwork shown by the artist online must match the exhibition sale price.
Artists Council members accepted into the show will be responsible for one 3-hour volunteer Gallery Host shift, if residing within 60 miles, at the Artists Center during the run of the exhibition. Gallery Host sign-up Schedule will be available on Artists Council’s website.
All selections are final. Selections for the Exhibition are final and at the jurors’ discretion.

ART DELIVERY AND PICKUP

1. Deliver accepted art: Wednesday, January 14th, 8-11 am, to the Artists Center, 72567 Highway 111, Palm Desert, CA 92260. Artwork must be delivered by the artist or his/her agent (you may ask a friend or family member). Artwork shipped to the Artists Center will not be accepted.

2. Sold and unsold art must be picked up at the Artists Center on Sunday, February 1, 2026, 2-4pm by the buyer, the artist, or his/her agent.

LIABILITY

By submitting artwork to the California Desert Plein Air Exhibition, the individual artist acknowledges and agrees that he/she:

Has read and agrees to all conditions of entry.

Releases the rights for use of images of his/her artwork in any Artists Council or Desert Plein Air Association’s promotional and marketing material.
Is responsible for insurance for his/her artwork. Neither the Artists Council nor its officers, directors, staff, or volunteers, nor anyone connected with the Artists Council, Desert Plein Air Association or this exhibition will be responsible for theft of, loss of, or damage to artwork, however caused.

TECHNICAL HELP FOR ARTISTS

If you are having difficulty with the form (either technical entry issues or membership issues), please email us at info@artistscouncil.com.

If you have any concerns about your ability to complete the online entry form, we encourage you to enter before December 15th to allow time for you to get technical help. We cannot extend the deadline for anyone who waits until the last days to enter and then runs into technical problems.

QUESTIONS?

If you have Artists Council membership questions, please contact the Artists Council via email at info@artistscouncil.com

If you have any questions about the exhibition or entering the Plein Air competition, please contact Diane Moore at desertpleinair@gmail.com.