October 23-30, 2021 | Locations throughout San Angelo, Texas

The Stampede Begins

A century of plein air painting in Texas celebrated during EnPleinAirTEXAS.

The annual EnPleinAirTEXAS competition returns to San Angelo, Texas, from October 23 to 30 for a week of painting the city’s surrounding ranchlands, rivers and diverse landscapes. This year the event celebrates a century of plein air painting history in the region. In 1921 artists gathered along the South Concho River, just south of San Angelo. The annual event, which grew to be quite popular, ran for eight years. Jacalyn Beam, Spar Hill, oil on linen panel, 14 x 18”

The 2021 event features 35 juried artists across 17 states from a pool of applicants from 28 states and two countries. They will compete for $35,000 in cash and awards. Among the artists is Jacalyn Beam. The event juror is Michael Obermeyer, who is the president of the prestigious California Art Club and is a Signature Member of both the California Art Club and the Laguna Plein Air Painters Association. The 2021 event, which is hosted by the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, is also a major fundraiser for the museum’s children’s education programs.The 2020 EnPleinAirTEXAS Grand Prize winner Susan Lynn’s painting Afternoon Oak.

“The artists are treated with invitations to paint on historic private ranches and welcomed as special guests by the ranchers each year. Even with Covid back in the picture, painting in the wide-open spaces makes it very easy to social distance,” says Barbara Rallo, coordinator and co-chair of EnPleinAirTEXAS. “The ranchers love having the artists, and it makes them look at their ranches in a whole different way. They comment that now they see shadows or vistas and think, ‘Oh, the artists would love to paint this!’”Missouri artist Richard Sneary’s painting from the 2020 Open Paint-Out at the Roping Fiesta.

A variety of happenings are scheduled throughout the week, including Ranch Painting Days, during which the artists paint in plein air on six private ranches from October 23 to 26; the San Angelo Paint Day & Exhibit of Early Ranch Paintings on October 27; and the Roping Paint-Out & Exhibit & Sale Events on October 30, among others. Lorie Merfeld-Batson of Westcliff, Colorado, painting at the 67th annual San Angelo Roping Fiesta in 2020.

“Just walking into the Stables Building at Fort Concho, for the night of the Art Collectors STAMPEDE Awards Show & Sale [on Friday October 29] will take your breath away,” says Rallo. “You are surrounded by close to 300 incredible paintings, all of them touching our hearts because they are ‘us’—our lands, rivers, historic downtown and our international water lilies...Truly a sight to behold, and the ‘stampede’ begins!” —

EnPleinAirTEXAS
October 23-30, 2021
Locations throughout San Angelo, Texas
(325) 656-2500, www.enpleinairtexas.com