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The Green Lake Plein Air Festival invites artists to spend the day painting outdoors throughout downtown Green Lake and its scenic parks. From historic buildings and charming storefronts to gardens, restaurants, and stunning lake views, this event celebrates the beauty and character of our community through art created on location.Hosted as part of the 2026 Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities (CEC) Conference, the festival will bring visitors from across the region to Green Lake. Conference attendees and community members alike are encouraged to watch artists at work and enjoy an evening exhibition and public sale of completed paintings.
About the Festival:
Plein air painting—meaning “in the open air”—is the practice of creating artwork outdoors, directly inspired by the landscape and natural light. Artists will spend the day painting throughout designated areas of Green Lake, capturing the energy, color, and spirit of the town in real time.
This is a non-juried event open to artists of all skill levels and media, including oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, casein, and gouache.
Event Highlights:
- All-day plein air painting throughout Green Lake
- Public exhibition and sale of artwork
- No commission on artist sales
- Four cash awards, including Best of Show ($500)
- Off the easel sales opportunities with visitors and conference attendees
- Artist raffle
Festival Judge:
Trina May Smith will serve as the judge for the 2026 Green Lake Plein Air Festival.
Trina May Smith grew up in Missoula, Montana, where the surrounding landscape left a lasting impression that continues to shape her paintings. She earned her BFA in Painting from the University of Washington in Seattle and her MFA in 2D Studio Art from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Trina has exhibited widely in solo and group shows across the United States, including Brooklyn, Chicago, Washington, DC, and Seattle. Her work has been shown at galleries such as Tory Folliard, Abel Contemporary, and Portrait Society Galleries in Wisconsin, as well as institutions including the Wright Museum of Art in Beloit, Mount Mary University in Milwaukee, and the Maine College of the Arts. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Painting at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh.
Schedule at a Glance:
Check-in & Canvas Stamping: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Town Square Community Center Lobby
Painting Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (within designated boundaries)
Exhibition & Public Sale: 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Heidel House Hotel Lobby (653 Illinois Ave, Green Lake, WI 54941)
Awards Announced: 5:45 pm
Artwork Removal by 6:30 pm
Registration:
- Registration Fee: $30
- Late Registration (after April 1): $40
- Registration is online only and includes participation in all festival activities.
- All fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Presented By:
Art MidWisconsin, Community Economic Development Associates, and Town Square Community Center
Artists are encouraged to read the full prospectus before registering.
Register to Participate
Full artist guidelines and requirements are outlined in the event prospectus.
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Event Venue
492 Hill Street, Green Lake, WI, United States, Wisconsin 54941
Tickets
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