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.
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.
Held annually in Mandurah and the Peel Region of Western Australia, this vibrant festival brings together over 200 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, free have-a-go activities and awards and prizes.
Plein Air Down Under presents a week of outdoor and evening paint-outs, over $13,000 in awards and prizes, workshops, youth involvement and two art exhibitions. In 2026 internationally renowned artists Greg Barnes (USA), Leon Holmes (Aus) and Andy Dolphin (Aus) will run Masterclasses, paint and demonstrate throughout the festival.
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, enjoy the festivities and visit the Spirit of the Landscape Exhibition.
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 $13,000 in awards and prizes
- Day and evening paint-outs
- A two-hour Quick Draw painting competition
- Opportunities to exhibit, sell and buy original artwork.
Gallery
Did you know Spirit of the Landscape has its own Instagram page? 👀 Follow @spiritofthelandscape on instagram www.instagram.com/spiritofthelandscape/ for exclusive artist spotlights, exhibition updates, and a front-row seat to the creative process. Don't miss a thing!![]()
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Spirit of the Landscape Exhibition![]()
5 September to 11 October 2026 - Aloca Mandurah Art Gallery![]()
Mandurah Performing Arts Centre![]()
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Image: Detail from "Hinterland Glow" by Jos Coufreur Jos Coufreur Artist
If you want to look the part while plein air painting, you will love our range of branded T Shirts, Hoodies and Aprons. ![]()
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Follow the link to view the range - some have logos, some have dates, some have both - your choice. Order online and receive via post, or collect from AS Designs Port Kennedy.![]()
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www.asdesignprint.com.au/collections/plein-air-down-under![]()
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Images:![]()
left: the crew lining up for coffee ![]()
right: how we debrief at the end of the festival. ![]()
Both activities are fun! And we look the part!
🎨 That painting that didn't quite work? Procreate can fix it.![]()
You know the feeling. You painted outdoors, the light was beautiful, the scene was perfect but something went wrong and you're not sure what. The composition feels off. The colour isn't singing. You bring it home and it sits there, unresolved.![]()
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Here's a skill every plein air painter needs in their toolkit: using Procreate on your iPad to diagnose exactly what a painting needs before you pick up a brush again.![]()
In this one-day masterclass with Andy Dolphin, you'll discover how a few minutes in Procreate can transform how you see and fix your paintings:![]()
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✅ Identify colour and tone problems instantly![]()
✅ Test compositional changes and cropping without touching the original![]()
✅ Use layers to experiment freely — nothing is permanent![]()
✅ Walk away with a clear plan to repaint with confidence![]()
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Already have Procreate but given up on it? This is the class that will make it one of the most useful tools in your practice. Andy will unlock the power sitting right there on your iPad - and show you exactly how it serves your traditional painting, not replaces it.![]()
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Masterclass: Procreate for Plein Air Painters with Andy Dolphin![]()
📅 Tuesday 29 September 2026, 9am–4pm![]()
📍 Mandurah Performing Arts Centre![]()
See more details and bookings here pleinairdownunder.com/workshops/
Only three days to go until the opening of the Watercolour Society of WA Inc opening event of the 4th International Watercolour Exhibition. The opening event is open to all from 6pm to 8pm on Thursday 11 June and should be a fabulous evening. If you can't make that, the exhibition continues until 23rd June 2026 (9.30am to 4.30pm daily). There will be plenty of inspiration here for PADU water colourists!
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Someone has to do it!![]()
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Testing out a Mandurah beach location for Georgia Mansur's Acrylic Seascapes Workshop on 23 September.![]()
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✔️ Great views![]()
✔️ Shelter![]()
✔️ Cafe on site![]()
✔️ Rolling surf & rocks![]()
✔️ Headland with distant buildings ![]()
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What do you think?![]()
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@gogeorgiegirl
Contact
Postal Address
P.O Box 788
30-32 Pinjarra Road
30-32 Pinjarra Road
Mandurah, WA
Australia, 6210
Australia, 6210
