.jpg)
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.”
The submissions and competitions will face a jury of local artists and board members for acceptance into the show and for judging the winners. The general competition spans three days from March 18-20, 2026, and requires artists to create a new plein air painting from scratch anywhere in Colorado County. First place will be awarded $1,000; second, $700; and third, $400. The quick draw competition limits artists to three hours on Saturday, March 21, to create, wire and frame a plein air painting. First place will be awarded $1,000; second, $700; and third, $400.
“The purpose of the event is to get people out painting and appreciating our town and to get our town more recognition, so we want to draw in as many amazing painters as possible. We think that they should be rewarded for their work,” Story said.
According to Live Oak Art Center’s president Renee Long, the plein air contest existed informally and sporadically for years before being organized into the event today. Long said she hopes to expand the event to feature more artists and award more prize money. This year, Live Oak Art Center will be expanding their showcase to their second floor and welcoming 20-30 artists instead of the previous limit of 10.
“I would love that we get to the point where this could become a plein air art walk place to be … What we would like to do is focus on having Columbus be where artists come to paint plein air,” Long said.
Plein air painting originated in the early 19th century in France and spread across Europe, most notably in Britain, according to Britannica. Artists did not have easy access to references of their subjects indoors – an issue later resolved with the development of modern photography – so painting outdoors ensured consistent viewing access. The painting method became popularized in the mid to late 19th century and influenced the impressionist art movement and artists Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Camille Pissarro. Today, plein air artists have flocked to Texas to paint its diverse landscapes and historical architecture. To widen the range of subjects, long requested for those with land to open up their properties for artists to come paint.
“We do this in the spring, and artists especially love to paint bluebonnets, and we have a plethora of them in Colorado County,” Long said. “…If we have people that are willing to step forward and offer to have artists come paint on their land that would be ideal.”
Those interested in permitting an artist to paint can reach out to the Live Oak Art Center at director@ liveoakartcenter.org or (979) 732-8398. Artists can apply at painttexas2026. artcall.org. The exhibition will be showcased March 18 - April 30, 2026.
