Join us for the Escalante Canyons Art Festival, Come celebrate the stunning public lands of Utah’s canyon country. Hosted in Escalante, Utah along Scenic Byway 12 between Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks in the heart of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Plein air and studio competitions, art exhibits, on-site sales, workshops, demonstrations, arts and crafts fair, live music, guided walks, and much more.

Schedule Of Events:

9:00 am-4:00 pm - Günther Haidenthaller: Watercolor en Plein Air, Simplified
Watercolor has a reputation for being “hard” which is completely undeserved. Yes, it’s a bit unforgiving, but not difficult. We will first cover the basics of composition/design and dialing in the values. Then we’ll get out there into the great outdoors and go hands-on! I’ll do a short demo in how to create background washes with a variety of interesting colors, soft or even lost edges by painting wet in wet, then hard-edged darker shapes for color and temperature contrast, and establishing correct, believable values. Then I’ll turn you loose to find your own inspiration.

Cost: $250 (Two day workshop)

Location: Escalante Park Pavillion
80N 50W
Escalante, Utah 84726

7:30 am - Deb Harwick: Group Painting Excursions
If you are new to the festival and looking to meet up with fellow artists, or you just enjoy painting with others, please join Deb Harwick on her daily excursions. You will travel as a group to each destination in your own vehicles (although car-pooling is encouraged where possible). At the destination, set up location and length of stay will be decided by each individual.

Excursion sign-up sheets will be available at Sign-in/Stamp-in.

Devil’s Garden – so worth it!
Drive time: 30-40 minutes on a washboard road
Subject: Hoodoos and vistas
Shade: Hard to come by
Amenities: Bathrooms and picnic tables

9:00 am – 12:00 pm - Suzanne Gibson: Shapes and Shadows in the Shifting Sun
Join Suzanne for a lesson in Shapes and Shadows as we explore the variety of challenges with the shifting sun.  Learn how to spot and recognize the “Sweet Spot” of a plein air painting in this paint- along session.  Work will be demonstrated in oils / water mixables – suitable for all artists, all skill levels, all mediums.

Bring your supplies.

Cost: $25

Location: Meet at Escalante Town Park Pavilion

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm - Kevin Berend & Grace Welker: “Where I’m From” Poetry Workshop
Like visual art, writing offers a window onto our relationship with the land. Poetry provides a unique perspective to reflect on those relationships. In this workshop, we’ll read and analyze George Ella Lyon’s famous poem “Where I’m From”, then use it as a template to create our own versions from our own life experiences. Participants will be invited to share their work and engage in discussion about process, style, and technique.

Instructors will provide copies of George Ella Lyon’s poem “Where I’m From.”

Students should bring a notebook, pen/pencil. Students should bring a notebook, pen/pencil.

Cost: Free

Location: Meet at Grand Staircase Escalante Partners Office
530 W Main Street
Escalante, 84726