Welcome! 

At our annual Elora Plein Air Festival, Artists are invited to capture the charm and warmth of our region. Discover heritage buildings and historic villages; dramatic gorges, lazy rivers, and hidden streams; rolling hillsides and picturesque farms. 

• Thursday, May 16th through Saturday, May 18th discover artists painting outdoors in Fergus, Elora, and the surrounding countryside.  You may even find them out at night painting capturing a nocturne view.
• There will be other fun events to engage in during the festival, such as walking tours, music and great food.
• Collective Art Outdoors on both Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19 between 1 and 3 pm: Be part of group creativity and stay for a few minutes or the whole time.  All ages are welcome, families too! An experienced mural artist and art teacher, Meredith Blackmore, invites you to be part of creating both a painted mural and a collective nature collage. All outdoors under canopies on the grounds of the Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Meilvlle St., Elora
• Saturday, May 18th, 9 am through 1 pm – Fergus Quick Paint: A fast-paced and fun competition -the artists have 2 hours, from 9 am to 11 am to complete their painting and submit it for the Quick Paint judging. This year’s Quick Paint will be in the beautiful downtown core of Fergus where artists will capture the street scenes, bridges, and river views. Templin Gardens will be the ‘home base’  where the show and sale of the quick paint works will take place and the judge will award the Best Quick Paint prize.
• Sunday, May 19th, noon through 5 pm – Elora Plein Air Festival Show and Sale: This is the culmination of the artists’ efforts and they are ready to share and celebrate. In the galleries, there’s a buzz of excitement as people come in to view and buy the beautiful works the artists created over the previous 3 days.  Meet the artists, discover a piece you can’t resist, vote for your favourite for the People’s Choice award, and just enjoy the show!
• The presentation of all awards and winners will be announced at the start of the sale.

• A gallery filled with art created en plein air over the last 3 days will be for show and sale and the place will be buzzing with energy and excitement.
• Enjoy the show, meet the artists and perhaps find a piece that will go home with you!
• You can vote for your favourite in the show between 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.
• Our 2024 award presentations are scheduled for Sunday morning and all award news will be posted when the sale opens at noon.  The presentation of the People’s Choice award will follow voting by the viewers at approximately 2:30 p.m.

The Grand Prize winner receives $1000

2nd Place winner $500

3rd Place winner $300

People’s Choice Award $200

Best Nocturne $200
Best Student Work $200
Honorable Mentions $200 each
Best Quick Paint $200

Born and educated in the Philippines, Art immigrated to Canada in 1976. Excited at the prospect of pursuing his passion for painting, he enrolled in workshops to gain knowledge of the business of Art in Canada. Today he lives in Southern Ontario with his wife where the surroundings abound with beautiful subject matter. “If only we would stop and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.” It has served him well as most of his paintings depict beautiful Ontario.

From oil to watercolor and acrylics, Art has proven that he can handle all three mediums very well. Being more at ease with watercolors, Art conducts workshops all across Canada, the United States, and Europe using the medium with expertise.

“I love nature; it inspires me all the time. Light dominates my paintings; it makes them alive. Being able to paint is a gift, sharing this talent is God-given.”

Art is represented by galleries in Canada. Most of his work is in private and corporate collections in Canada, the USA, Australia, the Philippines, and Europe. Art B. Cunanan is also an elected member of the Canadian Society of Painters in WaterColour and IWS Canada.

Elora’s Stan Jaychuk is known as an unwavering supporter of local arts and a lover of literature. Unknown to many is that he is an award-winning portrait and plein air painter.

As a young man, Stan found an artistic mentor and tutor, Hazel Wellington (Devereaux), a close friend of A.Y. Jackson from the Group of Seven. His portrait of Chief Treetop from the Six Nations won the W. Ross MacDonald Award presented to him by A.Y. Jackson.

It was as a business systems analyst he met his lifetime influence, his beloved wife, Shirley Dilworth, while visiting a client company office. An artist herself, she encouraged his painting, and eventually, they moved out of Toronto to be surrounded by the rhythms of nature in a community of creative people where he could “capture the essence of what speaks to him” and “allow the moment to guide him”.

When Beverley Cairns and Barb Lee started making their dream of a plein air festival a reality, Stan’s enthusiasm and encouragement sustained them. Stan sponsored the First Prize award the year the Elora Plein Air Festival launched.

Aerial video of the Grand River running through the beautiful towns of Elora and Fergus Ontario.

Produced by Tivoli Films Inc.