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Second Annual Paint Mono County
Plein Air Competition

Ready to come Paint Mono County? 

Registration deadline extended to September 11th!

Scholarships available for Mono County Residents

Click below to see our workshops!

When the fall colors paint the Sierra in shades of gold, we invite you to capture the beauty of our region in this plein air competition, the first of many to come! Paint in the outdoors, and take part in daily events and workshops, and finish off with a celebratory reception. $4000 in prize money up for grabs! 

Program & Events

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SEP 20

Early Bird Check-In

Time: 4-6pm

Location: Mono Arts Council Community Arts Center & Gallery

Address: 501 Old Mammoth Road, Ste #5, Mammoth Lakes, CA

SEP

21

Artist Check-In Starts

Time: 9am-6pm

Location: Mono Arts Council Community Arts Center & Gallery

Program: ‘Paint Out Competition’, Artists paint on location around Mono County; maps of fall color and locations will be provided as inspiration; self-directed.

Required at Check-in: Artists bring canvas/paper/grounds to be stamped on back; artwork will not be accepted for juried exhibit without the MAC stamp; all work must be produced during Paint Mono County. 

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Artist Meet + Mingle: Distant Brewing 6-8pm

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After Sep 21, Check-In will be available every day during gallery hours 12pm-6pm until Sep 24. The earlier you check in, the more time you have to paint! 

SEP

22-23

Paint & Workshops

Location: Mono County

Program: ‘Paint Out Competition’, Artists paint on location around Mono County; self-directed. 

 

Workshops / Demos Program: We are thrilled to offer seven amazing workshops by local and visiting artists. See below for more details. 

SEP

24

Paint!

Location: Mono County

Program: ‘Paint Out Competition’, Artists paint on location around Mono County; self-directed.

SEP

25

Artist Submission, Reception, and Awards

Artists Submission: Artists may submit one piece for juried exhibit; maximum framed size 16” x 20; work must have MAC stamp.

Location: Mono Arts Council Community Arts Center & Gallery

Time: 10am-12pm (work will not be accepted after noon)

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Judging: 3pm-4:30pm

 

Art Reception & Awards: 

Location: Mono Arts Council Community Arts Center & Gallery

Time: 6:30-9:00pm 

Fee: Tickets $35. Purchase tickets HERE. (All registrants are given one ticket) All are welcome to attend. Refreshments & light appetizers will be provided.

SEP

26

Art Exhibit and Sale of Competition work

Location: Mono Arts Council Community Arts Center & Gallery

Time: 12:00-6:00pm 

SEP

27

Art Exhibit and Sale of Competition work

Location: Mono Arts Council Community Arts Center & Gallery

Time: 12:00-4:00pm 

All artists welcome!

Entry Fee: $100 

Includes one competition entry and one ticket to Art Exhibit, Reception & Awards Ceremony; one drink ticket & light appetizers. 

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Additional Tickets for Art Exhibit, Reception, & Awards Ceremony: $35
Includes one ticket to the reception, with one drink ticket & light appetizers

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Demos/Workshops: 

Includes a selection of demonstrations & workshops by seven guest artists throughout Mono County. Prices, dates, and locations vary. See below for details. 

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Prizes 

First: $2,000

Second: $1,000

Third: $750

Honorable Mention: $250​​

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The Reception and Kick Off events will take place at Mono Arts Council Community Arts Center & Gallery in Mammoth Lakes.

Thank you to our generous sponsors!

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Workshop Information & Details

This year we are offering 6 workshops/demos of all lengths and mediums. These workshops are also available to ALL, not just to those registered for the Paint Mono County competition. A perfect opportunity to further your painting skills, learn a new medium, or be introduced to the art of plein-air painting! 

Paint Mono County welcomes our esteemed Judges:

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Jim Wodark

Jim was born in 1958 in Denver, Colorado but grew up near the flatirons.  Both of his parents are artistic and he was tremendously influenced by them and the natural beauty of the environment. Cartooning was his first love and he worked in that field for 15 years.  In 1990 Jim moved to California and a few years later met his wife, Julie.  It was at this time that he began to paint with oils. The birth of their first child, Clint in 1998, focused his desire to paint while being a stay at home dad. In 2000 they had twin girls, Sophia and Gwen. Believe it or not this helped him focus even more! For the last 24 years he has been able to paint everyday and has had great growth and success.  Jim paints both “En Plein Air” (on location from life) and in the studio. 

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Rick Delanty

Rick J. Delanty is a Californian by birth and in spirit, finding in this state a love for nature and wonder of Creation which he has continued to explore in his colorful and expressive oil and acrylic landscape paintings. His work is notable for its expressionistic movement, emotional use of color, and variety of textures and brushstrokes. Rick is a national award-winning artist in plein air competitions around the West, and in exhibitions across the United States, including the California Art Club’s Gold Medal show. 

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He has practiced his craft professionally for fifty years, painting from Big Sur to Niagara Falls, and teaching and demonstrating in a variety of venues. His work is in the permanent collection of three prominent museums, with twenty-seven paintings in one of the largest private collections of California art in the nation.

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Ron Luce

Ron Luce has been drawing and painting since he was a child. Ron was born in Japan and raised mostly in California. Ron discovered the art of Ansel Adams and added photography skills to his repertoire while attending high school. He experienced the splendors of Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra during family camping trips and Boy Scout outings. He studied art at Fresno and San Diego State Universities. Ron has been a landscape watercolor artist for over twenty years. He was a contributing member of the Offtrack Art Gallery in Encinitas, California from 1992 to 1996. He finally attained his dream of living in the mountains when he moved to Mammoth Lakes, California, in 1996. Ron now lives in Bishop, California, where he continues to paint his favorite subjects, the beautiful
Sierra Nevada Mountains. Ron owns and operates Bishop Art Supply on Main Street in Bishop, which also includes a custom frame shop and gallery, and where many of his paintings, photos and
prints are on display along with those of many other talented local artists. His watercolors and photos have been displayed in galleries and art shows throughout Mammoth Lakes, June Lake and Bishop. Ron has also written, illustrated and self-published a popular hiking book entitled Easy Day Hikes Around Mammoth, and three coloring books on local themes.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: I don't have time to be there for the whole week! Can I still participate? 
A: Yes! Our official check-in times are September 20, 4pm-6pm, and September 21, 9am-2pm. The earlier you check-in, the more time you have to paint, but we do offer flexible check-in any day between September 21-24 during gallery hours, 12pm-6pm. Just make sure you can meet the deadline to submit work on September 25, 10am-12pm.

Q: Will there be discounts for lodging for participants in Mammoth? 
A: Yes! We have a number of discounted lodging for Paint Mono County, as well as a huge list of restaurants and local businesses offering discounts for participants throughout the week! Discount codes will be sent to participants upon registration.  

Q: My friend is participating in Paint Mono County, but I am not. Can I join them for one of the workshops? 
A: Yes! All workshops are open for anyone to register, not just Paint Mono County participants. Workshop tickets are sold separately. You can also purchase a ticket for the Art Exhibit, Reception, and Awards ceremony to celebrate all of the artists and their work! 

Q: I have a recent plein-air painting of the Eastern Sierra that I'm really proud of. Can I enter that into the competition? 
A: No! All work entered into the competition MUST be created during the event. You must check-in at the MAC and get your 'grounds' (paper, canvas, board, etc) stamped on the back with the official Paint Mono County stamp before painting begins. The stamp will prove that the work was created specifically for this event. You can get as many 'grounds' stamped as you need! 

Q: What will the weather be like in Mammoth Lakes/Mono County in September? 
A: Mammoth Lakes sits at around 8000ft elevation, and Mono County is a geographically expansive county with varying temps that are subject to changing weather. Please be prepared for all kinds of conditions, especially if venturing out into the high alpine or off the beaten path! 


Q: Any other rules/information I should know about? 
A: Click the button below to download the 2026 Prospectus & Rules PDF! This document will also be sent to all registrants before the event via email. 

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