Paint Texas! exhibit and contest announces artist call

Live Oak Art Center announced its search for artists for its fourth annual Paint Texas! Plein Air Contest for spring 2026.

Paint Texas! celebrates plein air painting, the act of painting outdoors, with an exhibit, a quick draw competition and a general competition. The national event invites all plein air artists, 18 and older, to apply to the contest and exhibit by Wednesday, Jan. 7.

“I love the plein air competition for Columbus because the whole goal of plein air painting is capture the lighting of the moment and capture the authenticity of the scene,” Erin Story, Live Oak Art Center’s new executive director, said. “I love seeing so many people put in so much dedication to capturing the natural beauty of Columbus.”