I was thrilled to be juried into this show. I’ve painted in Rocky Mountain National Park during every season, and it never gets old. I’d heard great things about this event from friends, and now that I’ve participated, I understand why.
The painting radius covered anything within 50 miles of Estes Park, which I found incredibly generous. I could return every year and still have endless painting opportunities.
For my first piece, I chose Alberta Falls. For two days, I arrived at the trailhead at 4:45 AM and hiked to the falls, painted for about two hours, then drove to Old Fall River Road to work on a second painting. I like working on multiple pieces a day and returning at the same time for another session. It's a process that works well for me, even if repeating that entire adventure twice was exhausting!
Between those long days, I participated in Saturday’s Quick Draw and auction along the Estes Park Riverwalk. I accidentally turned in my painting 30 minutes early because my brain isn't always with it in the mornings. Still, I was pleased to see it spark some back-and-forth bidding before going home with a wonderfully kind couple from Kansas.
My third painting, Red Rock Lake, ended up receiving both the Artist’s Choice and People’s Choice awards! Artist’s Choice was one I’d especially hoped to receive someday because it reflects the collective opinion of fellow artists rather than a single juror’s taste. I certainly didn't expect it here. This was perhaps the strongest group of artists I've exhibited alongside, and I was blown away by the work of Farley Lewis, Kathleen Lanzoni, Alex Wick, and so many others. To receive that recognition from my peers, along with the support of the voting public, was an enormous compliment.
I loved the work I made and the experiences behind it. Each painting has its own story, linked below.
Quick Draw & Auction
Here I am with the auction winner of my painting. So many lovely and supportive people participated in the event.
Painting with friends!
My artist and adventure friends showed up to hang out and paint with me below Chasm Falls on Old Fall River Road.
Paintings pictured, left to right, are by Emily Drew, Julia Robinson, and Haley Hall.
Show & Awards Ceremony
Estes Valley Plein Air 2026, a juried plein air painting event in Estes Park, Colorado, where artists paint on location throughout the Estes Valley and surrounding mountain landscape, including areas near Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s a wonderful event for collectors and visitors to see freshly created plein air work inspired by the Colorado Rockies.
Paint Out Dates
August 20–25, 2026
Opening Reception + Awards
Friday, August 28, 2026
5:00–7:00 PM
Awards announced at 6:00 PM
Public Exhibition
August 29–September 27, 2026
Open daily, 11:00 AM–5:00 PM
Location
Art Center of Estes Park
517 Big Thompson Ave., Unit 201
Estes Park, CO 80517