Event Dates: Nov 3rd - Nov 9th, 2025
Exhibition: Nov 9th, 11AM-4PM
Website: https://www.cityofcapitola.org/acc/page/capitola-plein-air-2025
My Highlights:
Driving into town the first day, I got emotional when I saw the enormous banner for this event flying over Capitola Avenue. It touched my heart for us artists to be welcomed so warmly.
My painting “4 o’clock Magic” received 3rd Place by a panel of judges Samantha McNally, Ryan Reynolds, and Sheryl Knight. This painting also received the Artist’s Choice award, which is a personally meaningful distinction because it is voted by my peers. I am overwhelmed by this recognition.
I am particularly proud of my nocturne “Late Night Ice Cream” because of the hutzpah it took to execute this painting in the cold and dark, and despite coastal mists that dripped constantly from the night sky. I view watercolor nocturnes as a badge of honor, and am glad I persisted.
I had great engagement with the public throughout the week, thanks to a system of Artist Trading Cards that the event organizers put together. People could “collect” Trading Cards from artists as they paint throughout the week, and each unique card is redeemable for a raffle ticket at the Exhibition. It was SO much fun to delight people who could collect my cards while I painted.
Biggest Lessons:
I missed a rule about all paintings needing to be for sale, and made a faux pas by exhibiting paintings that weren’t for sale. While I won’t repeat this mistake at this event in the future… if you’re an artist, I’d love to hear your advice on how to handle situations where you show a painting you don’t wish to part with? I’ve accidentally sold paintings before, only to regret doing so later. Maybe I’m just being too sentimental, but with some paintings, it’s hard for me to name a price that is fair to both me and the buyer.
I kept losing art supplies to the ocean. I dropped my ink pen sketching on the Wharf, and it rolled into the water. I dropped my atomizer on the rocks, and it slipped the cracks into the abyss. I feel terrible about polluting the ocean… and need to be more careful with my stuff.
I took a rest day while it rained on Wednesday, and I believe that was the correct decision. Yes, I feel FOMO now seeing everybody else’s gorgeous rainy plein air paintings. But the recovery day was probably more beneficial to me, than fighting the weather for a decent watercolor.
Gratitude:
Thank you to the Capitola Art & Cultural Commission for organizing this event for 10 years, and for the seamless partnership with Recreation and local businesses to host, market, and mobilize this event.
Thank you to Palace Art Supplies for their extreme generosity sponsoring the prizes, the public art activities, and the supplies they provided us with.
Thank you to fellow artists. I’m so grateful to collect your cards, talk shop, and feel the wonderful community of doing this together. I’ve learned so much from everyone.
