The Heart of America Artists’ Association is bringing it back…our beloved little outdoor painting event which began in 2020. The town of Siloam Springs has a big heart for the arts, and plein air artists and enthusiasts alike will enjoy the hospitality and plentiful painting motifs. Not to mention, many of the board members call Siloam Springs home and can’t wait to share it with the plein air community once more!

Important Dates:
September 23: Deadline to Register
Registration is below. Entry requires membership. If you are a current 2024 member all you have to pay is the entry fee. The entry fee is in addition to membership dues, and is $35 for artists, and $20 for students. Enter directly below.

If you’ve completed event registration, and paid the membership dues, the final step is to pay entry fee below:

October 2, Wednesday: Mentoring Session
Artists of any kind are invited to learn about and practice plein air painting with the President of our association, Todd A. Williams. This opportunity is free and open to the public 9am-noon at the Twin Springs Park in downtown Siloam Springs.

October 4, Friday: Critique Session
During the day artists will have an opportunity to have Todd A. Williams offer helpful critique on their artwork. Please contact us at info@heartofamericaartists.com to sign up for a time slot.

September 30 – October 5: Painting
Artists are invited to paint anywhere in the downtown area. This year’s event will continue to be on the honor system and will not require stamped canvas/panels/paper. Please be considerate and do not block entrances/trafficways to businesses.

October 5, Saturday: Announcements of Awards, Exhibit and Sale
New location this year…Olive and Opal. (Be sure and thank them, they graciously offered their beautiful exhibit space on 300 E. Main Street in Siloam Springs.)
10 – 11 am Submission  Submit one framed or unframed (see note below) plein air painting for judging which begins at 11:30am. We will announce the judge as soon as one is secured.
Note: If your painting is unframed, we ask that you paint it on stretched canvas, with picture wire to hang it.
2 – 5 pm Public Exhibition
Commission on sales: The host and Heart of America Artists Association will keep 30%.
Artwork must be picked up by 5:30 pm that day, unless you intend to leave it for the After-Show Exhibition (see in red below)

Prizes:
Over $3,000 in cash awards plus sponsor awards of gift certificates and merchandise

Artist Category prizes include:
First Place: $500
Second Place: $300
Third Place: $200
Plus Honorable Mentions

College Category prizes include
First Place: $500
Second Place: $300
Third Place: $200
Plus Honorable Mentions

High School Category prizes include
First Place: $300
Second Place: $200
Third Place: $100
Plus Honorable Mentions

After-Show Optional Exhibition Opportunity:
Every year we try to provide a chance for you to keep your work exhibited in Siloam Springs. The plein air exhibition venue, Olive and Opal, has offered to let the paintings continue to hang for the rest of 2024, and there will be an open-house reception for that at a date determined later.