ARTIST REGISTRATIONS now open

    ALL SKILL LEVELS, ALL MEDIUMS, ALL AGES.

    Please bear with us as we transition our content from 2025 to 2026
    Something new, unique and uplifting is capturing the community’s imagination.
    Since the days of the impressionists, artists have enjoyed the experience of painting outdoors. It is one of the true joys of being a painter.
    Not only are we at one with nature, but there is also the camaraderie when two or more paint on location.
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    Plein Air Down Under (PADU) is Australia’s longest running and largest outdoor painting festival and includes awards and prizes, feature artists, youth involvement, demonstrations and two exhibitions of plein air paintings.
    Join over 200 artists at Australia’s premier outdoor painting festival (est 2019).  Held annually in Mandurah and the Peel Region of Western Australia, this vibrant festival brings together artists for a week of creativity, learning, connection and outdoor painting.
    PADU Experience Peel Paint Outs are held from 22 – 25 September in the wider Peel Region, incorporating rural landscapes away from the CBD.  The festival weekend of 26 – 28 September is held around Mandurah and the historic town of Pinjarra and celebrates outdoor painting with exhibitions, painting demonstrations, have-a-go activities and awards and prizes.

    Plein Air Down Under presents a week of outdoor and evening paint-outs, over $12,000 in awards and prizes, workshops, youth involvement and two art exhibitions. In 2026 internationally renowned artists (TBA) will run Masterclasses, paint and demonstrate throughout the festival.

    Over 200 artists will be painting throughout Mandurah’s town centre and beautiful foreshores, cultural precinct, and the historic town of Pinjarra. When the artists aren’t on site painting, the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre serves as the festival hub, offering artists and spectators the opportunity to watch demonstrations, and enjoy the festivities.

    Highlights of the 2026 festival will include:

    • Workshops and Masterclasses
    • Painting demonstrations
    • Free have-a-go art activities for all ages
    • Spirit of the Landscape Art Exhibition
    • Artist registration open to professional, non-professional and youth artists
    • Over $12,000 in awards and prizes
    • Day and evening paint-outs
    • A two-hour Quick Draw painting competition
    • Opportunities to exhibit, sell and buy original artwork.

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    Plein Air Down Under

    3 days ago

    Plein Air Down Under
    🎨 EXCITING MASTERCLASS PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT! 🎨We're excited to announce that Michael Harding Paints is proudly partnering with the LEON HOLMES' Two Day Oil Painting Masterclass at Plein Air Down Under 2026. 🎯 WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?Leon Holmes is a Michael Harding Oil Paint Ambassador, and in celebration of this, MH Paints are providing samples of Leon's colour palette for participants to work with during this Masterclass. As well as save money on the Material List, it gives participants the opportunity to work with premium quality paints. If you love them as much as we do, they will be available to purchase at the festival.🗓 WORKSHOP DETAILS:Monday 21 & Tuesday 22 September 20269:00am - 4:00pm dailyMandurah & Peel Region, Western Australia📚 WHAT YOU'LL MASTER:Renowned artist Leon Holmes will share his knowledge of oil painting en plein air with emphasis on:• Understanding what you're seeing and why artists use unexpected colours• Tips and tricks for manipulating paint to create luscious, rich, clean colour• Avoiding muddy results and achieving brilliant colour mixing• This Masterclass is the ultimate warm-up bootcamp to prepare you for the PADU painting weekPerfect for students struggling with muddy colours or those looking to understand more about colour and light. Also ideal for experienced painters feeling their work needs a new direction - Leon always has fresh discoveries to share!This is hassle-free learning with world-class instruction and premium materials, all included.Ready to paint without the prep stress?Register now: pleinairdownunder.com/workshops/Limited spaces - book today!Please note: Masterclasses & Workshops are reserved exclusively for artists registered to paint and attend the Plein Air Down Under Outdoor Painting Festival. OIL PAINTING EN PLEIN AIR - Two day Masterclass with Leon HolmesMichael HaOIL PAINTING EN PLEIN AIR - Two day Masterclass with Leon Holmes#MichaelHardingPaints #LeonHolmes #OilPaintingMasterclass #pleinairdownunder2026 ... See MoreSee Less

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    Plein Air Down Under

    7 days ago

    Plein Air Down Under
    🎨 EXCITING MASTERCLASS PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT! 🎨We're excited to announce that Michael Harding Paints is proudly partnering with ANDY DOLPHIN'S Two Day Watercolour Masterclass at Plein Air Down Under 2026. 🎯 WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?Andy is a Michael Harding Watercolour Paints Ambassador, and in celebration of this, each class participant will receive samples of each of Andy's favourite colours to work with in his Masterclass.Andy will still have a materials list - MINUS any paint colours, saving you time and money, and an opportunity to work with premium grade watercolours.🗓 WORKSHOP DETAILS:Wednesday 23 & Thursday 24 September 20269:00am - 4:00pm dailyStudio & Plein Air locations in Peel Region, WA📚 WHAT YOU'LL MASTER:Multi award winning artist, Andy Dolphin will demonstrate his bold watercolour technique with emphasis on:• Simplifying complex scenes using tone and composition• Creating successful paintings on location• Building lightweight, portable plein air setups• Working efficiently with a limited palettePerfect for artists with some watercolour experience looking to hone skills painting outdoors, or artists comfortable with other media wanting to explore watercolours without the material investment stress.This is hassle-free learning with world-class instruction and premium materials, all included.Ready to paint without the prep stress?Register now: pleinairdownunder.com/workshops/Limited spaces - book today!Please note: Masterclasses & Workshops are reserved exclusively for artists registering to paint and attend the Plein Air Down Under Outdoor Painting Festival.#MichaelHardingPaints #AndyDolphinArt #WatercolourMasterclass #PleinAirDownUnder2026Michael Harding Oil Paints Andy Dolphin Art WATERCOLOUR - Two day Masterclass #1 with Andy Dolphin ... See MoreSee Less

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    Plein Air Down Under

    2 weeks ago

    Plein Air Down Under
    ELEVATE YOUR SOFT PASTEL SKILLS with GREG BARNES!PASTEL - IMPRESSIONIST STYLE - en plein air2-day Masterclass with PADU Feature Artist & pastel master, Greg Barnes (USA)There's something absolutely MAGICAL about soft pastels! 😍 The way they glide across paper, the rich pigments that blend like silk, the immediate satisfaction of pure colour flowing from your fingertips to the surface...✨ WHY PASTELS ARE IRRESISTIBLE:🌈 Pure pigment intensity - colours so vibrant they practically glow🤲 Tactile joy - feel the art flow directly through your hands⚡ Instant gratification - no drying time, immediate results🎭 Versatile magic - from soft whispers to bold statements🌟 Forgiving medium - easy to use, layer and correctJoin award-winning American artist Greg Barnes and take your pastel work to the next level! Greg will show you how to harness pastel's luscious qualities to paint more loosely and spontaneously.🎯 EXPERIENCE THE PASTEL MAGIC:• Master Greg's impressionist techniques with this dreamy medium• Learn to capture light and atmosphere effortlessly• Perfect colour harmonies that make pastels sing• Personal guidance from a true pastel masterMonday 21 & Tuesday 22 September📍 Mandurah & Peel RegionReady to get your hands dirty with this captivating medium?👆 REGISTER: www.facebook.com/events/1390125139550760Whether you're new to pastels or seasoned - Greg's expertise will transform your approach! #SoftPastels #GregBarnesArt #PADU2026 #PastelPainting ... See MoreSee Less

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    Plein Air Down Under

    2 weeks ago

    Plein Air Down Under
    PADU Co-founder Barb Thoms will be opening her creative space as part of this year’s Mandurah Open Studios. She is also one of the founding members of the Mandurah Plein Air Artists and an accomplished plein air artist in her own rightTravelling initially stimulated her artistic development, and it was during these holidays that the joy of painting “en plein air” became evident. More recently, Barb’s travels have focused on painting the majesty of the New Zealand landscape. These artworks, painted recently across the South Island of New Zealand, will be presented at this year’s Mandurah Open Studios. Some were painted in rural locations, from the side of the road, and others at busy tourist lookouts – each one has its own unique story and connection to place.Call in and have a look at Barb’s work, both plein air AND studio. And if you need to know anything at all about PADU, she is the person to ask. Barb is sharing her studio space with Textile Artist Denise Fisher. One studio visit, two artists.Studio location: 16 Mariners Cove Drive, Dudley ParkOpening Hours:Saturday 2- Sunday 3 May: 10am - 4pmSaturday 9- Sunday 10 May: 10am - 4pmWeekday visit: Friday 8 May: 10am - 4pm@denisefishertextileartist @Mandurah Open Studios ... See MoreSee Less

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    Contact

    Email:
    pleinairdownunder@gmail.com
    Phone:
    +61 414 441 761
    Postal Address
    P.O Box 788
    30-32 Pinjarra Road
    Mandurah, WA
    Australia, 6210