Our Vision
Plein Air Palm Beach (PAPB) is dedicated to fostering a vibrant plein air painting community through collaboration with local artists, art groups, cultural institutions, nonprofits, and the public. Our mission is to promote plein air painting through education, public events, exhibitions, and community partnerships. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we welcome support and sponsorship from individuals and organizations that share our passion for art and cultural enrichment.
Throughout the year, PAPB organizes both scheduled and spontaneous paint-outs across South Florida. We actively partner with community organizations and nonprofits to bring plein air artists to local events, including:
- Delray Affair
- Boynton Beach Art District
- Delray Beach Art & Jazz Festival
- Old School Square Center for the Arts
- Achievement Center Home Tour
- Milagro Center
- Loxahatchee Everglades Day
- Delray Beach Historical Society
- Boca Raton Historical Society
- Mounts Botanical Garden
- Delray Concours
- Boca Museum School of Art
Our Story
PAPB was co-founded in 2013 by artists Ralph Papa and Donna Walsh. It began when Donna led paint-outs with the Palm Beach Watercolor Society, while Ralph organized plein air sessions around Delray Beach. They merged their efforts to form what is now Plein Air Palm Beach. On April 22, 2014, PAPB officially became a Florida nonprofit corporation at a meeting at Delray Center for the Arts. Founding board members included: Manny Jomok, Steve Nash, Francis Lynn, Lorrie Turner, Elfrida Schragen, Donna Walsh, Ralph Papa, and Pati Maguire.
Join Us at the Easel
We use https://Meetup.com/palmbeachartists to organize and announce our paint-outs. Our events are open to artists of all experience levels—from beginners to professionals—who are passionate about plein air painting. We gather in beautiful locations throughout Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties to paint landscapes, seascapes, and cityscapes that reflect the rich beauty of South Florida.
Painting outdoors can feel daunting at first, but with a welcoming group like PAPB, it quickly becomes a joyful and inspiring experience. Most artists who join us for the first time are eager to return.
Meetup Group & Artist Participation
To stay informed about upcoming paint-outs, artists can join our Meetup group. We host paint-outs twice a month from October through May, often ending with a group critique and a picnic lunch. The mailing list is solely used for event notifications and organizational updates—never for promotions
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- Meet the Plein Air Palm Beach board members
