Beginning October 4, the public has the rare opportunity to watch artists and engage with them in their element during the Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational,an event organized by the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association. Creating in plein air, 30 of the country’s top artists will paint in and around the coastal California town, and will reveal their pieces at the Collector’s Gala pARTy, concluding the event.
Michael Situ during a past Nocturne Paint Out. Photo Courtesy of Mitch Ridder.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome this exceptional group of artists to Laguna Beach for our 27th Invitational,” says Toni Kellenberg, LPAPA’s President. “This festival is a cornerstone of our mission to preserve and promote the plein air painting tradition. It offers a unique chance for the public to experience art in the making and to see Laguna’s beauty through the eyes of these master painters.”
Returning artist Kathleen Hudson is known for her landscapes depicting unique lighting conditions. “I try to make each painting a window into a particular moment in time when something about the light and atmosphere make my subject seem moving or beautiful beyond the norm,” shares the artist.
Michael Situ, Sunset Reflection, oil on canvas, 12 x 16 in. Painting for the Invitational Art Catalog Showcase at the LPAPA Gallery.
When picking location and subject matter, Hudson explains, “Plein air events do involve some strategy and time management. I aim to have a plan but hold it loosely in case inspiration strikes somewhere I don’t expect it. A few of my best paintings have come from times where I’ve been on my way to some place and then looked over and thought, ‘Now there’s the painting.’ I’ll likely try to paint at least one on the coast because the dramatic shapes of the coastline near Laguna Beach make it pretty straightforward for an artist to create dynamic compositions," continues the artist. "The last couple of years during the Invitational, we’ve had inland heat waves and a dense layer of marine fog hugging the coast for much of the week. If that happens again, I’ll seek out some sunlight at inland parks or hit the trails above the canyon to see if I can get above the fog layer.”
Kathleen Hudson, Cliff Walk at Twilight, oil on linen panel, 24 x 30 in. Painting for the Invitational Art Catalog Showcase at the LPAPA Gallery.
During the nine day event, there are a number of opportunities to observe artists at work, with additional programming that the public is invited to attend. The festivities begin on Saturday, October 4 with the Welcome to Laguna Paint Out at the oceanside Heisler Park. On October 5 the the artists begin their plein paintings during a two-hour painting competition from 9 to 11 a.m. The following days are full of artist talks, demonstrations, Q&A panels at the Laguna Art Museum, a sunset/evening paint out and a chance to see Laguna Beach Unified School District students paint for scholarship money. Also, pick up and Invitational Art Catalog Showcase, to see studio work by participating artists at the LPAPA Gallery, on view through October 10.
The Gala pARTy is held Saturday, October 11 from 6 to 9 p.m., offering food and entertainment, while also giving attendees a first-look at all the plein air works created over the course of the event. The concluding day, Sunday, October 12, offers the public free entry for additional festivities. The Post Invitational Art Show will hang at the LPAPA Gallery from October 16 through December 12.
Aimee Erickson painting at Main Beach 2024. Photo Courtesy of Mitch Ridder.
A full menu of ticketed and free planned events, including specific dates and times for paint-outs, talks and demonstrations, are detailed on the official Invitational webpage. —
27th Annual Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational
October 4-12, 2025
Various Locations
Laguna Beach, CA
lpapa.org/2025-laguna-invitational-events/
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