Home / Events / 2025 Brevard Plein Air Event

2025 Brevard Plein Air Event

September 8, 2025 - September 13, 2025
Downtown Brevard

Join us for the fifth annual Brevard Plein Air Festival — a week-long celebration of live painting, local landmarks, and creative energy right here in Transylvania County.

What’s plein air? It simply means “painting outside.” Throughout the week, you’ll see artists set up their easels all over the county — from downtown sidewalks and favorite local businesses to sweeping mountain views, waterfalls, and hidden scenic spots. Every piece is painted on-site and inspired by the places we know and love.


Friday, September 12 – Patron Preview Party: Kick off the weekend at our exclusive Friday night art preview. Meet the artists, enjoy food and drink, and get first access to purchase original artwork before it goes on sale to the public.    Get your tickets below!

Saturday, September 13 – Street Festival + Wet Paint Show & Sale: Bring the whole family downtown for a lively street festival featuring live music, local makers market, food trucks, and our signature Wet Paint Show & Sale — where you can browse and buy artwork created just days (or hours!) before, featuring the landscapes and scenes you recognize.


Whether you’re an art enthusiast or just looking for something fun to do downtown, this is your chance to celebrate the beauty of where we live, through the eyes of the artists who paint it. Come out and be part of the experience. Make art outside. Take the moment with you.

Purchase Your tickets

Buy Tickets

Sponsors

Sponsorship and Friends of Festival Opportunities

These donations are specifically designed for couples and individuals, focusing on supporting the Heart of Brevard’s mission to enhance downtown vitality and uplift local artists and businesses. The Brevard Plein Air Festival stands as a testament to our commitment to fostering a vibrant arts community and celebrating the cultural richness of Downtown Brevard. Your contribution enables us to implement innovative marketing strategies, promotions, and engaging signature events that further promote our shared goals.

Tickets included as a part of a donation or corporate sponsorship can not be applied toward a purchase.

Payment by check is welcome; all online fees include a 5% convenience/service fee.

Friends of The Festival Sponsorship Tiers

Friends of the Festival $150

This sponsorship tier includes recognition in our full-color festival program guide and your name listed on the event website.

Friends of the Festival $250

This sponsorship tier includes recognition in our full-color festival program guide, your name listed on the event website, and a limited edition tote bag.

Friends of the Festival $500

This sponsorship tier includes recognition in our full-color festival program guide, your name listed on the event website, a limited edition tote bag, and two tickets to the Patrons Preview Party.

HOB Business Sponsorship

As a Heart of Brevard Business Sponsor, you will:

  • Gain Visibility: Your business will be featured on the  Brevard Plein Air website and social media.
  • Show Community Support: Align your business with one of downtown Brevard’s signature arts and cultural events, and demonstrate your commitment to supporting local talent and community spirit.
  • Drive Traffic: Connect with event attendees and community members who value businesses that invest in the cultural vibrancy of downtown.
  • Enhance Your Brand: Build recognition and trust with your audience by being part of a visible, impactful community initiative.

This $250 community support tier is available exclusively to Heart of Brevard businesses and offers a meaningful way to participate and be recognized.

Join us in making Brevard Plein Air a success and showcase your business’s commitment to our vibrant downtown community. Your support at the $250 level makes a significant impact!

Heart of Brevard Business Sponsorship $250

Want to do More?

We also offer expanded sponsorship opportunities tailored to your business goals, including naming rights, elevated visibility, and event-specific recognition across all Heart of Brevard events. Let’s find the right fit for your brand.

To become a sponsor or learn more, please contact Nicole Bentley

Schedule

Monday, September 8, 2025

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Artist Check-in

Artists must check in by 5pm on Monday, September 8th to have their canvas or paper stamped prior to beginning work to be eligible for entry in the Saturday “Wet Paint” Sale.

10:30 am - 5:00 pm

Plein Air Painting Downtown Commences

Artists are invited to paint in their choice of locations in the surrounding area and within downtown Brevard. A list of recommended locations will be distributed two weeks in advance.

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Artist Check-in

5:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Welcome Reception at Territory Wine Market

Come and meet the other artists who will be participating with you in the event. Light food and refreshments are served and you may bring a guest to this event. It's a great opportunity to meet other participating artists and perhaps arrange to travel to a new location together to paint!

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

8:00 am - 7:30 pm

Plein Air Painting Downtown

Artists are invited to paint in their choice of locations in the surrounding area and within downtown Brevard. A list of recommended locations will be distributed two weeks in advance.

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Featured Artist Demonstration: Cathryn P Cooper

8:00 am - 7:30 pm

Plein Air Painting Downtown

Artists are invited to paint in their choice of locations in the surrounding area and within downtown Brevard. A list of recommended locations will be distributed two weeks in advance.

Thursday, September 11, 2025

8:00 am - 7:30 pm

Plein Air Painting Downtown

Artists are invited to paint in their choice of locations in the surrounding area and within downtown Brevard. A list of recommended locations will be distributed two weeks in advance.

3:00 pm - 3:55 pm

Quick Draw Paint Out: Artist Check-in

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Quick Draw Paint Out: Competition

6:05 pm - 6:30 pm

Quick Draw Paint Out: Brushes down Art Submission

Judging taking place starting at 6:31PM. The deadline to submit Quick Draw pieces for award consideration is 6:30PM. Please do not be late in turning your work in.

Friday, September 12, 2025

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Submit Artwork for Patron's Preview Party: All Accepted Artists must submit one piece

*Deadline to submit artwork for the Patron’s Party. You must submit one piece to the Patron’s Party.

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Patron's Preview Party

Kick off the weekend at our exclusive Friday night art preview. Meet the artists, enjoy food and drink, and get first access to purchase original artwork before it goes on sale to the public.

Tickets

Saturday, September 13, 2025

9:30 am - 5:00 pm

Street Festival & Maker's Market

Bring the whole family downtown for a lively street festival featuring local makers market, live music, food trucks, and downtown shopping & dining!

9:30 am -

Public Wet Paint Show & Sale

Join us at our signature Wet Paint Show & Sale, where you can browse and buy artwork created just days (or hours!) before, featuring the landscapes and scenes you recognize.

Vendors

Food Vendors

Craft and Retail (A-l)

Craft and Retail (m-z)

Non Profit Vendors

HOB Vendors

Accepted Artists

Rachel Alfonso-Smith
Pisgah Forest, NC

Acrylic & Watercolor

Website
Stephanie Amato
Milton, GA

Oil Pain

Website
Emily Atkinson
Brevard, NC

Acrylic

Website
Jeanie Bernard
Brevard, NC

Acrylic

Website
Jan Best
Buford, GA

Oil

Website
Cathryn Cooper
Brevard, NC

Graphite & Acrylic

Website
Michael Dority
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Oil

Website
Pat Dunham
Brevard, NC

Watercolor

Website
Anita Elder
Dahlonega, GA

Oil

Website
Sharyn Fogel
Brevard, NC

Watercolor

Website
Lamar Gilstrap
Newnan, GA

Oil

Website
Phil Hawn
Denver, NC

Gouache

Website
EJ Kellerman
Weaverville, NC

Oil

Website
Karen Kuhlmann
Durham, NC

Acrylic & Oil

Website
Susan Link
Canton, NC

Oil

Website
Jill McGannon
Suwanee, GA

Oil

Website
Mary Negron
Cumming, GA

Oil

Website
Laura Oleniacz
Durham, NC

Acrylic & Oil

Website
Roy Paschal
West Columbia, SC

Acrylic & Oil

Website
Robin Rohwer
Knoxville, TN

Oil

Website
James Sargent
Hendersonville, NC

Watercolor

Website
Billy Smith
Brevard, NC

Graphite, Acrylic, & Oil

Website
Scott Sullivan
Brevard, NC

Acrylic

Website
Patricia Sweet
Waynesville, NC

Oil

Website
William Taldone
Clearwater, FL

Oil

Website
Bryan Thomas
Brevard, NC

Pastel & Acrylic

Website
Gina Tunney
Canton, NC

Oil

Website
Colleen Webster
Asheville, NC

Oil

Website
Peter Zell
Sanibel, FL

Acrylic

Website
Cynthia Zimmerman
Brevard, NC

Acrylic & Pen and Ink

Website

Featured Artist

Featured Artist

Cathryn Cooper

Cathryn is a painter and a draftsman, reveling in the combination of the two. Her current work involves layers of acrylic washes and graphite drawing on canvas. She has pursued the landscape in abstract, intuitive interpretations, focusing on light and color. The idea is to lead the viewer into a realm of quiet and restful calm. She handles acrylic paint like watercolor, letting it become veils through glazing layer upon layer. With heavier applications of acrylics and graphite, she finds a dance between opacity and transparency. Exploration into plein air painting has provided her with a new voice. Painting outdoors is a direct contact with her love of portraying light. “I believe we are affected so greatly by our surroundings and geography. They become a landscape of the mind. That landscape seeps into my painting, like a dream becoming reality. Painting frees the hand, and drawing contains it. I love the balance between the two. There is a narrative there, a question I’m pursuing to see where the two will take me.” Cathryn has a BFA from Atlanta College of Art, now SCAD. She traveled to France, presenting work to the Arches Watercolor Paper Mill, celebrating their 500th anniversary. Her past work has included collage, photography, and her much-loved drawing. Her work is in collections in France, the UK, and the US. She has upcoming projects with Earthshine Lodge in Western North Carolina. She is currently represented by Woodlands Gallery, and Twigs and Leaves Gallery. She has a home studio in Brevard, North Carolina.

Artist Website

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