ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - The Elk Grove Fine Arts Center will host a competition art show for its exhibition titled “Expressions in Plein Air,” where artists can win an award and a cash prize for their creations. The exhibition will begin the first Saturday public reception on Sept. 6, and the showcase will continue through Sept. 25.

According to the Elk Grove Fine Arts Center, Plein Air painting is about leaving the four walls of your studio behind and experiencing painting and drawing in the landscape.

The practice is centuries old; however, it was made into an art form by French artists of the Impressionist movement. The creation of transportable paint tubes and the box easel, the precursor to the plein air easels of today, allowed artists the freedom to paint “en plein air,” which is the French expression for “in the open air.”

The competition will be judged by artist John Angell, who is an award-winning photographer and encaustic artist, a heated wax medium with artwork displayed in the Museum of Encaustic Art’s permanent collection. His art is also featured in private collections throughout the United States, Tokyo and Strasbourg.

Angell is a Sacramento resident who, since 2021, has had his artwork accepted in more than 100 exhibitions. He received honors in 12 of those shows, including fourth place in the Crocker Kingslet exhibition and top honors in the Yolo Arts Art Farm Show.

All mediums are being accepted. There is an entry fee of $15 for gallery artists or a $20 fee per entry, per piece (non-refundable), with a limit of three entries per artist.

The Best of Show award earns a $100 prize. First Place will receive $75 and Second Place will receive $50. Additional ribbons will be awarded at the discretion of the judge.

The deadline to apply for this competition is Monday, July 21. Those who are accepted will receive a notification by July 25 via email. The artist reception is from 4 to 7 p.m., and awards will be announced at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 6.

To enter, visit elkgrovefineartscenter.org and click on the “Exhibitions Tab” and then “Calendar of Events.”