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Tuesday 11am - 5pm Wednesday 11am - 5pm Thursday 11am - 5pm Friday 11am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 4pm

Paint Grand Traverse

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Paint Grand Traverse

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Paint Grand Traverse is a plein air (outdoor) painting festival, celebrating artistry and the beauty of the Grand Traverse area.

Includes events for artists, collectors, students, and kids and families! Presented by Crooked Tree Arts Center.

06/20/2025

🌟 Announcing the 2025 Paint Grand Traverse Award Winners! 🌟

We’re proud to recognize this year’s standout plein air artists, selected by awards juror Kimball Geisler during our Fresh Paint Party at Crooked Tree Arts Center – Traverse City.

Congratulations to all 33 participating artists for a week of incredible work capturing the beauty of the Grand Traverse region — from rolling vineyards and harbor towns to quiet beach scenes and bright summer skies.

🖼️ All available works — including award winners — are on view at tonight’s Fresh Paint Party.

🖼Best of Show – Neal Hughes (Medford, NJ) “Fishtown Cowboy” Oil, 20” x 16” - Fishtown

🖼2nd Place – Jeff Suntala (Strongsville, OH) “Shadows at Randy’s” Watercolor, 11” x 14” – East Eighth Street & Union St.

🖼3rd Place – Thomas Moberg (Lansing, MI) “Modern Vintage” Oil, 12” x 24” – Bonobo Winery

🖼4th Place – Steve Griggs (Centennial, CO) “After Hours at Cousin Jenny’s” Watercolor, 10” x 14” – Cousin Jenny’s

🖼5th Place – Vlad Milan Duchev (Baltimore, MD) “Rush of Dusk” Oil, 16” x 16” – Traverse City

🖼6th Place – Logan Hudson (Fife Lake, MI) “Dream are Free” Oil, 12” x 24” – Port Oneida

🖼7th Place – Jeff Steiner (Minneapolis, MN) “Lake Ave Shadows” Watercolor, 18” x 24” - Traverse City

🖼8th Place – Kevin Barton (Petoskey, MI) “Janky at Fishtown” Oil on Oil Primed Linen, 18” x 24” - Fishtown

🖼9th Place – Mark Vander Vinne (Porter, IN) “Breathe a Sigh” Oil, 10” x 10” – Traverse City

🖼10th Place – Stephen Wysocki (Armstrong Creek, WI) “Out Buildings” Oil on Board, 8” x 20”, Port Oneida, Sleeping Bear Dunes

🖼 Artists’ Choice - Lyudmila Tomova Clark

And a big thank you to our Presenting Sponsor

Congratulations to all artists!

06/18/2025

Today’s Sponsored Painting Locations: Twisted Fish Gallery & Sculpture Garden and Traverse City Horse Shows at Flint Fields!

See painting in Antrim County and East side of Grand Traverse County! The artists will be at two sponsored locations today, and plein air painting will be happening rain or shine.

A special thank you to all our sponsors! We couldn’t do this festival without your support!

For more information about Paint Grand Traverse, please visit the link in our bio!

06/17/2025

Today’s Sponsored Location: Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate in Empire Michigan!

Today artists are painting in Leelanau county, but don’t forget to stop by Grocer’s Daughter for gelato and watching our artists paint on location.

A special thank you to our amazing sponsors! Your support for Paint Grand Traverse and our artists means so much.

For more information about Paint Grand Traverse, please visit the link in our bio!

06/16/2025

Today’s Sponsored Painting Locations: Chateau Chantal and Bonobo Winery of Old Mission Peninsula!

Catch artists today on Old Mission Peninsula whether it be at these locations or nearby wherever inspiration takes them.

A special thank you to these local winery sponsors for supporting our artists and Paint Grand Traverse!

For more information, please visit the link in our bio.

05/22/2025

Paint Grand Traverse is an annual plein air (outdoor) painting festival and competition, presented by Crooked Tree Arts Center and located in Traverse City, Michigan. Each summer, talented artists from across the country come to Traverse City to be inspired by the region’s beautiful landscapes, Lake Michigan shorelines, and charming town and villages. The festival includes classes, live demos, kids activities, art sales, exhibitions, and more!

3-Day Plein Air with Kimball Geisler

Study with a nationally recognized plein air artist and Paint Grand Traverse 2025 Awards Juror—right here in Traverse City!

Kimball Geisler, an award-winning plein air painter, is bringing his sought-after plein air workshop to Traverse City—offering artists a unique opportunity to learn without the need for extensive travel. His workshops attract artists from across the country, and this is a rare chance to study with him in the stunning landscapes of the Grand Traverse region.

05/01/2025

03/03/2025

We’re excited to introduce “Get to Know the Artists”—a special series that gives you a behind-the-scenes look at the incredible artists joining us for Paint Grand Traverse 2025!

Each post will feature an artist’s responses to fun, insightful questions designed to give you a glimpse into their creative world, inspirations, and quirks. From their must-have painting tools to their favorite music or podcasts, you’ll get to know the faces behind the easels before the event even begins!

Stay tuned as we spotlight a new artist each week leading up to the event. First up: Debra Howard of Omena, Michigan and Crisfield, Maryland

🎨If you could paint alongside any artist, past or present, who would it be?
Joaquin Sorolla

🎨Do you have a favorite time of day to paint en plein air?
Late day and at night. I seem to be more creative at night.

🎨If you could describe your painting style in 3 words, what would they be?
Outside the box.

🎨If you weren’t an artist, what other career would you have pursued?
Archeologist.

🎨What’s a quirky item in your painting kit that people might not expect?
A rubber paint brush.

🎨What song, artist, podcast or other audio is on repeat in your studio (or headphones while painting)?
Max Richter : On the Nature of Daylight

01/31/2025

We are thrilled to announce the 33 featured artists for the 8th Annual Paint Grand Traverse Plein Air Painting Event, happening June 14-21, 2025, in Traverse City, Michigan! 🖌✨

🎨These talented artists from across the country will capture the beauty of Northern Michigan in real time, painting outdoors throughout the region.

Want to learn more about this year’s incredible lineup? Visit our website to explore their work and get ready for an inspiring week of plein air painting!

📅 Save the date and stay tuned for event details!
Tree Arts Center - Traverse City

Address

322 Sixth Street
Traverse City, MI
49684

Opening Hours

Tuesday	11am - 5pm
Wednesday	11am - 5pm
Thursday	11am - 5pm
Friday	11am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+12319419488

Website

https://www.paintgrandtraverse.com/

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