An art project celebrating nature and the beautiful parks of Arkansas
Starting in March of 2022, Heart of America Artists Association began a series of plein air (outdoor painting) events in the five major geographical regions of the State of Arkansas to honor the parks. Starting in January 2026, an exhibition will travel throughout the state of Arkansas. In the exhibition, artists will be exhibiting a sizable artwork, and along with it will be a smaller étude (study) that inspired it, acquired from their participation in one of the park events. We are very excited that these events will be in coordination with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and the Arkansas State Parks.
Traveling Exhibit Locations
John Brown University – Windgate Art Gallery
January 15 – February 8, 2026
Opening Reception, January 15, 6-8PM
2000 W. University St., Siloam Springs, AR 72761
• Speaker: Kayla Gomance, Arkansas State Parks
Hendrix College – Windgate Museum of Art
Opening Reception, February 20, 5-7PM
1600 Washington Ave., Conway, AR 72032
• Speaker: Kayla Gomance, Arkansas State Parks
Arts on Main
Opening Reception, May 15, 6-8pm
415 Main St., Van Buren, AR 72956
• Speaker: Kayla Gomance, Arkansas State Parks
Mississippi River State Park
July 10 – September 20, 2026
Marianna, AR
Historic Arkansas Museum
September 25 – January 24, 2026
Little Rock, AR
Fort Smith Regional Art Museum
February 1 – May 2, 2027
Fort Smith, AR
Historic Cane Hill Museum
May 8 – July 31, 2027
Cane Hill, AR
Mena Gallery of Fine Art
August 12 – September 26, 2027
Mena, AR
Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council
October 1 – November 20, 2027
Texarkana, AR
Painting the Arkansas Parks Shop
Archive of Completed Plein Air Event Locations and Dates
Event #7 – Buffalo National River (Completed)
November 1-3, 2024, Jasper, AR
Buffalo National River was established by Congress in 1972 as the country’s first national river. Originating in the Boston Mountains of the Ozark Plateau, the river generally flows in an easterly direction to its confluence with the White River. Flanking the river are multi-colored bluffs of eroded sandstone, limestone and dolomite that tower in some places to heights over 400 feet.
Artists painted throughout the park and visitors enjoyed attending the final showing of the work and awards ceremony at Little Buffalo River Convention and Visitors Center.
Event #6 – Mississippi River State Park (Completed)
June 14-16, 2024, Marianna, AR
Mississippi River State Park provides quality access to the St. Francis National Forest and offers visitors endless adventures where the Mississippi River, Crowley’s Ridge and the Arkansas Delta meet. Visitors can explore everything from hardwood forests to the sandy shores of the Mississippi River while enjoying three lakes, the All American Great River Road (gravel) and Crowley’s Ridge Parkway (paved) (Both are National Scenic Byways), four hiking trails and two recreational areas.
Artists painted throughout the park and visitors enjoyed attending the final showing of the work and awards ceremony.
Event #5 – Historic Washington State Park (Completed)
March 15-17, 2024, Washington, AR
Historic Washington State Park has 101-acres featuring 54 pioneer-era buildings. An important stop on the Southwest Trail, James Bowie, Sam Houston, and Davy Crockett famously traveled through Washington, Arkansas. James Black, a local blacksmith, actually forged the legendary Bowie knife. From 1863-1865, it served as the Confederate capital of Arkansas.
Artists had a wonderful time, made a lot of paintings, and enjoyed the excitement as the event was held at the same time as the annual Jonquil Festival.
Event #4 – Cane Creek State Park (Completed)
November 3-5, 2023, Pine Bluff, AR
Located where the Coastal Plain meets the Mississippi Delta, Cane Creek State Park offers the opportunity to experience both in one visit. The park boasts the beautiful Cane Creek Lake, and a trail system that is second to none.
Artists had a delightful time experiencing Cane Creek State Park, many for the first time.
Event #3 – Hot Springs National Park (Completed)
April 28-30, 2023, Hot Springs, AR
Hot Springs National Park was a hit! A number of artists showed up and spiced up the annual Hot Springs Arts in the Park event by painting for our Painting the Arkansas Parks plein air event.
Hot Springs National Park was initially created by an act of the United States Congress on April 20, 1832, before the concept of a national park existed. The hot spring water has been popularly believed for centuries to possess medicinal properties, and was a subject of legend among several Native American tribes. The city has been home to Major League Baseball spring training, illegal gambling, speakeasies during the Prohibition era, and gangsters such as Al Capone, horse racing at Oaklawn Park, the Army and Navy Hospital, and 42nd President Bill Clinton.
Event #2 – Petit Jean State Park (Completed)
October 28-30, 2022, Morrilton, AR
Petit Jean State Park was an amazing place for artists to capture the essence of the great Arkansas Parks. Petit Jean is a 3,471-acre park in Conway County, Arkansas located atop Petit Jean Mountain adjacent to the Arkansas River in the area between the Ouachita Mountains and Ozark Plateaus. The park has a large waterfall, impressive architecture and many geological features; not to mention big landscape views.
The exhibition and demonstration were both well attended by patrons and artists alike.
Event #1 – Hobbs State Park (Completed)
March 24-26, 2022, Rogers, AR
Hobbs is Arkansas’s largest state park, spanning a 12,054-acre tract of Ozark landscape along the southern shore of Beaver Lake. It was an amazing place for artists to spread out and fish for some beautiful landscapes.
On March 26, 2022 artists brought their paintings the had made the previous two days to the exhibition held at Hobbs State Park Visitors Center. All the award winners are featured in the adjacent photo gallery.
