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Calgary, AB — A one-day outdoor painting competition is returning to Calgary’s Fish Creek Provincial Park this summer, inviting artists to trade studio walls for open sky.
Applications are now open for the 2026 Canada Paints Plein Air Competition, taking place Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. The event celebrates the tradition of painting en plein air — artists working on site to capture the landscape in a single sitting. Calgary-based Canada Paints Plein Air is dedicated to preserving and promoting outdoor landscape painting by immersing artists in Alberta’s natural spaces. The 2026 competition is sponsored by the Bow Valley Ranche Historical Society and Swinton’s Art Supply. “Last year proved this is more than a competition. Artists showed up for each other sharing space, stories, and sunscreen, and the public showed up for them,” said CPPA president Victoria Zyluk. “We watched as people stopped, observed, and asked questions engaging in a way that reminded us why painting outdoors still matters.” This year’s competition offers a different painting location and another opportunity for artists to form real connections in the field, accepting the challenge of painting outdoors while the clock is ticking. Two ways to take part:
Winners will be announced by a panel of judges at the close of the live painting event. A public show and sale follow. The new competition site within Fish Creek Provincial Park, along with event details, will be announced this summer. A detailed site map will be sent to all registered artists in advance including:
To submit your application before June 15, 2026, visit www.canadapaintspleinair.com To volunteer at the event, please contact [email protected] To keep up-to-date on competition news, please visit www.canadapaintspleinair.com To request media interviews, please contact [email protected]
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Artists bring Glennfield Park in Fish Creek Provincial Park to life in open-air painting challenge
Calgary, AB – Under sunny summer skies, the first-ever Canada Paints Plein Air Competition transformed Glennfield Park in Fish Creek Provincial Park into an open-air art gallery on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. More than 50 artists set up their easels across the park, capturing the landscape in real time as part of a four-hour timed painting challenge. At the end of the day, the Canada Paints Plein Air team was proud to announce the winners: Top Prize Winner: David Shkolny for Gerry Second Place: Cheryl Peddie, for In the Light Third Place: Louise Lacey-Rokosh, for Leaning into the Greens The competition also recognized Wildcard Award Winners, selected from artists outside the top the eight finalists:
“Today’s event celebrated not just the incredible talent of our artists, but the beauty of painting in the open air,” said Victoria Zyluk, President of Canada Paints Plein Air. “It was inspiring to see artists of all levels sharing their vision with the public and each other. We are especially grateful to our volunteers, judges, and sponsors who made this inaugural event possible.” The competition brought together artists, art lovers, and park visitors for a day of creativity. Following the judging, attendees enjoyed an Art Show & Sale in the Aspen Shelter, where they could meet the artists and purchase original works created that very day. We would like to thank our sponsors for their generous support, especially for our grand prize – $1,000 — which was sponsored by a Friend of Canada Paints Plein Air. Other generous sponsors to thank include BVR Historical Society, Swinton’s Art Supply, Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant, Tim Horton’s, Safeway, Sammy’s Pizza, Lifemark Physiotherapy/Massage, Fountain Tire Midnapore, and Kelly Curliss. The organization plans to make the plein air competition an annual tradition, encouraging both professional and emerging artists to take part. Future details and announcements will be posted at https://www.canadapaintspleinair.com/ About Canada Paints Plein Air Canada Paints Plein Air is a community-led arts initiative dedicated to celebrating and promoting plein air painting – the practice of creating art outdoors. Through events and competitions, the organization fosters artistic growth and builds connections between artists and the public. Calgary, AB (June 30, 2025) – Eight standout artists have been named finalists in the inaugural Canada Paints Plein Air landscape painting competition, set to take place Saturday, Aug. 9 in Calgary’s Fish Creek Provincial Park.
Calgary, AB (Feb. 13, 2025) - A new landscape painting competition organized by Canada Paints Plein Air is calling to artists for a one-day summertime event situated in Calgary’s picturesque Fish Creek Provincial Park.
Applications are open now for Canada Paints Plein Air Competition being held Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025. Canada Paints Plein Air is dedicated to supporting the tradition of open air landscape painting by immersing artists in the great outdoors. The plein air competition is sponsored by Bow Valley Ranche Historical Society and Swinton’s Art Supply. “The tradition of trying to capture the landscape in a single sitting is a remarkable challenge. We’re giving artists the opportunity to leave the studio behind and set easels down on the natural land. It’s a practice worth preserving and sharing with a like-minded community,” said Canada Paints Plein Air group member Ray Swirsky. The competition’s entry fee is $35 and applications close May 31st, 2025. From those applications, a total of eight artists will be juried into the competition. Artists who apply and are not juried into the competition will be invited to attend the event and paint with a chance to win as a wildcard or longshot entry. The winner is eligible for giveways and will be entered automatically into future competition. Cash prizes will be awarded to winners of first place ($1,000), second place ($500) and third place ($250). Prize winners will be announced by a panel of judges following the close of the live painting event. The event location within Fish Creek Park will be announced this summer. Watch for updates on parking, amenities, and tips. To submit your application before April 30, visit www.canadapaintspleinair.com To keep up-to-date on competition news, please visit www.canadapaintspleinair.com To request media interviews, please contact [email protected] |
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