8th Annual Plein Air Abingdon Grand Finale Event exclusive VIP access

Join us from 5:00pm to 6:00pm for an exclusive viewing of our Grand Finale Art Exhibit & Sale. Browse our juried collection reflecting three days of work from sought after Plein Air artists participating from Maryland to Florida! Sip a glass of wine while browsing the collection and enjoy hors d'oeuvres from local restaurants and eateries. Chat with the artists about their creations, and most importantly -- BUY ART!

This is a limited access gallery and reception.

Awards announced at 6:00pm!

RESERVE YOUR TICKET NOW!

Now -- meet out Juror for 2024 -- Jeremy Sams!

Jeremy Sams is an award winning representational artist residing in Archdale, NC. He was born in 1977 and his childhood consisted of spending lots of time in the woods of the Uwharrie Mountains and playing in and along the banks of the Uwharrie River in the southwestern portion of Randolph County, NC. He became interested in art at a very early age, winning his first art competition at the age of 6. At age 15, he took his first art class where he was introduced to painting. His love for painting sparked a new change in his life and the beginning of a career was birthed by commissioned portraits and murals from the local community. Through these small art endeavors and apart from formal training, Jeremy was able to begin a professional art career at the age of 19. Jeremy’s primary subject matter is landscapes while working in acrylics. He also loves the challenge of portraits and his work varies in size from just a few sq. inches to murals measuring upward of 40’x60′.

From Jeremy:

"As a representational painter who uses acrylics, my goal is to use the visual vocabulary of painting to capture the beauty of God’s creation. I particularly love the challenge of capturing the moods of light and atmosphere and the composing of the elements in order to tell a story without using words. My aim is to help elevate the souls of the viewer and bring a sense of peace and hope.

In order to achieve this, it is of utmost importance for me to spend time studying and painting the particular scene on location, en plein air: to experience the sounds, the smells, the cool breeze or the humid air, and the movements of wind and shadows. All of these elements play a role in the emotional reaction we may have to a particular place. I’m most often moved by the dance of light and shadow in a scene along with the varying color temperatures in the atmosphere that fills the space between the object and myself.

I try with every finished work to maintain the integrity of the scene, while at the same time, breathing life into it. The challenge is often not to recreate every little detail, but to merely offer a suggestion so as to not lose the primary focus. If I can do this and achieve a desired emotional reaction within the viewer, then I consider it a successful painting."