Plein Air Art Festival

The Magic of Al Fresco Painting: Explore Art from Colorado’s Plein Air Artists 

Over 20 remarkable Colorado artists head to Snowmass the week of August 4, spending four days painting the natural beauty and splendor of the surrounding landscape. On Saturday, August 9 and Sunday, August 10, guests and locals are invited to Snowmass Base Village to view the artwork and purchase their favorite pieces to take home!

About the Snowmass Plein Air Art Festival

The 2025 Snowmass Plein Air Festival blends art, nature, community, and atmosphere into an immersive, inspiring experience. During the week of August 4-10, 20 talented Coloradoan painters, from seasoned professionals to passionate newcomers, come to the Valley to capture our spectacular landscape in real time.  They paint for five days before displaying their bountiful works of art for sale on the Events Lawn in Snowmass Base Village (outside of The Collective).  Over the weekend, the art sale provides the opportunity for locals to buy artwork that reflects the beauty of their ‘backyard.” For visitors, it provides an opportunity to bring home a ‘piece’ of the beautiful Roaring Fork Valley to remind them of their visit here.

Best of all, the festival provides attendees the unique and special opportunity to meet the artists and speak with them about their inspiration, their creative process, and their work. 

About the Artists

Nika Meyers: Born and raised in the hills of Bridgewater, Vermont, Nika grew up a visual learner and was fascinated by the natural world. She received a degree in Studio Art and Environmental Studies from Mount Holyoke College where she focused on visually representing landscapes in terms of systems through printmaking, paper making and mixed media. She moved to the Roaring Fork Valley in 2018, incorporating plein air watercolor painting as a way to deeply observe her environment. She was a recipient of the inaugural Cultural Vibrancy Grant Fellowship through the City of Aspen in 2024 and is a resident artist at the Red Brick Center for the Arts. Learn more about Nika and view her work here.

Scott Ruthven: Scott Ruthven, a Colorado native and full-time painter, has devoted his life to capturing the awe-inspiring landscapes of the American West. Painting directly from life, he brings the raw beauty of nature to his canvas with masterful brushwork and a deep reverence for the land. His evocative oil paintings are widely celebrated and highly sought after, gracing prestigious galleries and museum exhibitions nationwide. Visit his website to view his work.

David Harms: Born and raised in Wichita, Kansas and a graduate of Colorado State University, David began oil painting in 1996 and has been focused on plein air landscape painting since 1999. In 2006, David was made an artist member of The Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters and has received multiple plein air painting, gallery and salon show awards. David’s paintings can be seen in fine art galleries and on his website here.

Michael Kinsley: A resident of Old Snowmass, Colorado, Michael’s primary subjects are western Colorado and the southeast Utah desert, with plenty of work painted right here in the Roaring Fork Valley. He draws inspiration from two Canadian artists, Emily Carr and Frank Carmichael. His art can currently be found at Aspen’s Wind River Gallery, as well as his website here.

Clare Hunt: Clare Hunt studied art at Northern Illinois University before attending the University of Denver for a master’s degree in social work. After time in clinical social work, Clare returned to the canvas and has continued her art education in the Arts Student League, through art workshops and mentoring. She is represented by Mary Williams Fine Art in Boulder, Colorado, as well as the Sync Gallery in Denver, Colorado. Her work can be found on her website here.

Lindsay Jane Ternes: Based in Boulder, Colorado, Lindsay enjoyed a childhood exploring outdoors in Montana and Colorado Springs. Lindsay received a dual degree in Studio Art (BA) and Marketing (BSBA) from the University of Denver. Lindsay is always painting outside: being a plein air painter means weathering all of the elements to capture the most delightful and dramatic sights. Her work can be found at Corwin Galleries in Aspen, Colorado, Spirits in the Wind Gallery in Golden, Colorado, FoR Fine Art in Whitefish and Bigfork, Montana, and Horizon Fine Art Gallery in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Visit her website here.

Doug Graybeal: Graduating from college with a degree in Architecture during a slow economy Doug moved to Colorado to ski for a winter and never left. After forty years of practicing architecture, Doug decided to explore more “free flowing” art of watercolor and pastels. Doug continues to expand his artistic skills combining pastels and watercolors, participating in Plein Air events throughout Colorado. He is a signature member of the Pastel Society of Colorado, currently serving as Treasurer. Visit his website here.

Anita Winter: Growing up in Michigan and Mexico City enabled Anita to experience diverse cultures and environments. It also nurtured her passion for painting both landscapes and cityscapes. Anita is a signature member of the Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Society, The Western Federation of Watercolor Societies, and the Colorado Watercolor Society. Anita is represented by galleries across Colorado: Mary Williams Fine Art in Boulder, Willow & Tulaire in Littleton, and Shawn Horne Gallery in Crested Butte. Learn more about her and her work on her website here.

Kathleen Lanzoni: Kathleen is an award-winning artist, receiving over 55 awards from art exhibitions and organizations. She is a signature member of the Colorado Watercolor Society, the Western Colorado Watercolor Society, the Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Society, and the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies. She divides her time painting between the studio, Plein Air, and on murals sites. She grew up in Montreal and California and has lived in Colorado for more than 32 years, enjoying the endless subjects offered in this beautiful state. Her formal training is from the Art Institute of Boston and the Massachusetts College of Art. Visit her website here.

Rita Pacheco: Rita Pacheco works daily in plein air and in her Ridgway, Colorado studio. Her work background is in architectural rendering through 15 years in restaurant and hotel design. This is where the hard lessons of perspective were learned, and facilitate drawing accuracy in her paintings. One of Rita’s recent works was awarded Figurative Honorable Mention at the Oil Painters of America’s National Exhibition in Charleston, South Carolina.  She has been featured in Southwest Artists and Plein Air Magazine, and was named an “Artist to Watch” in Southwest Art Magazine. She is represented at Cimarron Song Gallery in Montrose, Colorado and Lovetts Gallery in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Visit Rita’s website here.

John Lintott: John lives in Grand Junction, Colorado. After eight years at the Colorado National Monument Association for eight years, he now paints full-time in his home studio. John has painted in numerous plein air events including three years in the Zion National Park Plein Air Invitational, twice in the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art, the Sedona Plein Air Festival, Snowmass, Aspen, Moab, and many more. John has many awards and accolades, and was recently accepted as an Out-of-State Artist Member of the California Art Club. Visit his website and see his work here.