Save the Date - APRIL 23 - 26, 2025
26th Annual First Brush of Spring

the 26th First Brush of Spring

The First Brush of Spring Plein Air Paint Out in New Harmony begins its 26th year on Wednesday, April 23, 2025! Art and spring in New Harmony are a perfect combination, with historical landmarks, labyrinths, rolling hills, blooming peonies, endless landscapes, and Victorian homes as painting subjects!

While the artists are creating their masterpieces, the rest of the community and visitors enjoy the spectator sport of cruising through the streets and river paths in golf carts, by foot, or on bicycles to see what is being painted by who. It is truly a marvelous experience to witness!

The Hoosier Art Salon co-hosts the 4-day event with the Indiana Plein Air Painters Association (IPAPA) with many competitions, art sales, receptions, and exhibits. Over 125 artists from across the country come to town to put paint on canvas, creating day and night to enter their pieces into a categorial competition held on Saturday, April 26 at Holy Angel’s lawn for their chance to win Best of Show and cash prizes.

All canvases to be entered into the Saturday competition must be presented blank at registration to be stamped with the current FBOS year at the Hoosier Art Salon gallery. All entries must be created during the week of the FBOS Paint Out and considered ‘wet paint.’

To register, download the IPAPA registration form and mail it to the listed address. Don’t forget to read the “Need to Know” information sheet, 2025 schedule, and take a look at all the exciting events the week has to offer!

Field to Finish Exhibition – Each year a “Field to Finish Exhibition” is featured in the Hoosier Art Salon Gallery.  Artists bring a completed ‘field study’ from the prior year to the First Brush of Spring to exhibit with a studio ‘finish’ piece inspired by the same subject. Pieces may be in any type of medium. All field studies must be stamped by the Hoosier Art Salon before finishes are produced. The exhibition opening on Wednesday, April 23, kicks off the Paint-Out. The “Field to Finish” exhibit is judged and several monetary awards are presented. 

NEW FOR 2025: The gallery will accept never-before exhibited stamped canvases from the previous year to the current F2F Exhibition. Example: A 2023/20224 stamped canvas may be submitted into 2024/2025’s exhibit, but a 2022/2023 stamped canvas will not be accepted.

Artists can now enter up to TWO (2) F2F pieces with a paid fee for each entry. A discount will be offered for more than one piece submitted by the same artist.

Register below by following the link. Be sure to also print the Information Packet and Forms to return with entry.  For questions, email Sara at skamman@hoosierartsalon.org.

The Larry Rudolech Quick Draw Competition – a race to see who can produce the most compelling artwork within the short 75-minute period allotted. Larry Rudolech was a much beloved IPAPA member who left us far too soon in 2020. All winners get a “Larry” badge displaying a self-portrait of him.

Saturday Art Sale – Held at the Ribeyre Center, from 9:00 – 12:00 PM CST, artists are invited to sell their inventory from their studios, as well as wet-paint pieces just created. Visitors have the opportunity to meet, discuss, and purchase a piece from their favorite artist they’ve had their eye on all week. 

Plein Air Competition – Artists will enter only one of their wet-paint pieces created from the previous days into the competition for their chance to be named a winner of the IPAPA Paint Out. There are several categories to choose from to enter. Judging takes place on the lawn of the Holy Angels Community Center on Saturday, April 26th. Indiana Plein Air Painters Association awards monetary prizes, donated by sponsors of the event, including the Plein Air Magazine.

Be sure to register today with the link listed above!

Stay tuned for new and updated information as it becomes available! 

Photos by Andy Batt