The Plein Aire Competition will begin prior to the Helper Arts Festival festival on August 12. Painters will have three days to paint within the boundaries of Carbon County. Competition will end on August 15. Awards will be announced at an evening reception on August 15 at the Helper Art Workshops Building.

We are honored to have Aimee Erickson as this year’s event judge. Erickson is the author of Plein Air Techniques for Artists: Principles and Methods for Painting in Natural Light. She is a signature member of Oil Painters of America and Plein Air Painters of America and has repeatedly won top awards at the country’s most prominent plein air competitions. Erickson will travel from her home in Portland, Oregon.

This is a cash prize competition: First Prize, $2,500. Second Prize, $1,500. Other awards, including Audience Choice will be given.

Interested parties are also invited to attend the reception where all participants’ artwork will be displayed and available for sale. Winning paintings will be sold in a live auction. This is consistently a great place to purchase works by notable painters at very reasonable prices.

have three complete days to paint up to x canvases within the boundaries of Carbon
County. Competition will end at time on August 15. Awards will be announced at a
reception on August 15 at the Dornan Arts Building.
Helper Arts Festival is honored to announce that Aimee Erickson will be this year’s
event judge. Erickson is the author of Plein Air Techniques for Artists: Principles and
Methods for Painting in Natural Light. She is a signature member of Oil Painters of
America and Plein Air Painters of America and has repeatedly won top awards at the
country’s most prominent plein air competitions. Erickson will travel from her home
in Portland, Oregon.
This is a cash prize competition: First Prize, $2500. Second Prize, $1500.
Artists are invited to submit applications at:
Interested parties are also welcome to attend the reception, at which the
competition paintings will be sold in a silent auction. Starting bids will be set by the
artists. This is consistently a great place to purchase works by notable Utah painters
at very reasonable prices.
Helper Arts Festival is known for its outstanding caliber of artists and presenters.
The 2024 competition judge was Charlie Hunter, who traveled by Amtrak train from
Bellow Falls, Vermont, right to Helper Main Street. Hunter’s work is held in the
private collections of the Jonathan Edwards College at Yale University, the Coca-
Cola Bottling Company and others.
Grand Prize winner of the 2024 festival was Dusk Overlook (12“x12“, oil on panel)
by Rob Adamson of Salt Lake City.
Helper Arts Festival was established in 1994 to bring arts and culture to Carbon
County, Utah. Now in its 31st year, the festival is known for its gallery stroll, fine
arts demonstrations, vendors, music, and film and live theatre productions. The