Enjoy the Town of Burnsville and help create, through your artistic endeavors, a plein aire experience!

Every year when spring fills the air and colors the gardens, artists from “all over” are invited to Burnsville and paint for “just one day.” The Paint Out is open to anyone in the WNC region working in all painting and drawing mediums. All ages and skill levels are welcome. We encourage beginners, emerging artists, as well as the pros. You do not need to be a resident of Burnsville or Yancey County. Students ages 5 to 18 can register free and compete for the Student Award.

TRAC’s Paint Out is modeled on the en plein air experience, a French expression that means "in the open air," particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors. The Paint Out was conceived by Sandra Gates, a local painter and Toe River Arts Council member. It was her hope that “for one day, all day, artists are outdoors painting and drawing in and around the streets of Burnsville for all to enjoy.”

One Saturday in May participating artists check in at the TRAC Burnsville Gallery between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. Painting materials are validated and a $25 fee is paid. Artists may use any painting or drawing medium or process. Once the materials are validated, artists venture to their chosen location; it can be anywhere they can get to and back by the deadline. Artists are welcome to visit Burnsville prior to the Paint Out to select the “scene” they want to capture, take photos, and prepare preliminary and practice sketches. In the evening, artists return to the TRAC Gallery by 5:00 p.m. with their paintings and titles and prices. There they also frame and price their artwork.

Each year TRAC selects a well-known painter to jury the entries. Based on her/his decisions, awards are presented to First ($500), Second ($300), and Third Place ($200); and in the Student ($50) and Honorable Mention ($100) categories. That evening a coffee and dessert reception is held in the Gallery. Folks come to meet the artists they watched all day, view the work, and applaud not only the winners but all the participants. Paintings from the Paint Out are on display for several days following the ceremony.

Besides your art materials, remember weather can be unpredictable in the mountains. Be prepared for rain. This event will be held rain or shine! We try to have a list of possible "dry" locations for you to paint in if rain does occur. This is one day in May you won’t want to miss even if you just like to watch them create.

Download the application and information by clicking here.

Support for the Paint Out is made possible by the Toe River Arts Council with the generous support of local family, Susan and Paul Crutchfield, who recognize and honor the “giving and generous spirit” of Sandra Gates. Funding to TRAC is also made possible with a Grassroots Art Grant through the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency.