Sedona Plein Air Festival

Oak Creek Canyon has been many things to many different people. Long before Europeans even considered the existence of this continent, it was home to countless groups of Native Americans. While some tribes seemed to have settled for a while in the valley, most of them appeared to use the area seasonally. As the United States expanded, the Tonto Apache peoples clashed with soldiers and settlers. By 1875, the last of the Native Americans were captured by the soldiers of Fort Verde, now Camp Verde. Settlers trickled in, slowly at first, until roads and irrigations systems were installed. Once word of the area’s natural beauty and thriving crops and orchards spread, homesteaders began to arrive in earnest. In 1902, with the installment of a post office in the back of a family home, the area officially became Sedona.

Sedona’s popularity has only grown since then. Now the second most visited tourist destination in Arizona, behind the infamous Grand Canyon, Sedona is still known first and foremost for its beauty. The towering red rocks contrast with the crisp blue sky; desert plants are explosions of green in the red-brown palette of the surrounding dust. It is nearly impossible to capture the expanse of nature, but some incredible artists do an amazing job in their landscape paintings. In recent years, the Sedona Arts Center has put together an amazing homage to this great artists.

The Sedona Plein Air Festival is a week long event that celebrates Sedona’s natural beauty as well as world-renowned artists. Over two dozen master painters are participating in the event, hosting workshops as well as free events. During some of these events, the public is invited to observe these artists in action. There will be times throughout the week where painters will set themselves up in a variety of locations and work. A respectful audience is encouraged to watch as these masters paint rivers, standing water, animals, and most of all, landscapes. There will also be talks done by most of the artists, discussing their personal journeys with their art and often some tips and tricks. There are also an abundance of paid workshops for the amature artist looking to improve, or a beginner just looking for an introduction. Art will also be for sale throughout the week. On the final day of the event, the public will have the opportunity to purchase pieces that were created during the week.

Sedona’s natural beauty can become addicting. The best way to see it is often during hikes or jeep adventures, but a quiet moment by a stream can be just as breathtaking. Local hotels, such as the Southwest Inn at Sedona, have lots of suggestions of places to paint, as well as the well-known hiking and adventuring that keeps everyone coming back to Sedona.