Calling all artists!

In the time of travel restrictions and social distancing due to COVID-19, a personal and creative connection to nature has become even more important for health and wellbeing.

This year’s special virtual installment of the McMichael En Plein Air Competition invites artists to participate in this beloved annual tradition by looking to natural sites easily accessible from home. Locations could be a personal garden, where Group of Seven members J.E.H MacDonald and Arthur Lismer found inspiration, or an urban wilderness. After all, the famous Franklin Carmichael painting October Gold, is based on the artist’s sketch from the Lansing area, located just a few streets away from Carmichael’s home on Cameron Avenue in northern Toronto.

While for the last several years the McMichael’s grounds and the adjacent Humber River Valley have provided inspiration for the competing artists, this year’s virtual edition will allow artists, and landscapes, around the country to participate.

Artists are invited to produce works in three medium categories:

• Works on canvas/panel
• Works on paper
• Digital photography

Only email submissions will be considered. Include all documents and images as attachments (no zip files). The subject line of your submission must read “McMichael En Plein Air Competition.” Email submissions to competitions@mcmichael.com by Sunday, August 23, 2020. 

For more information about McMichael’s En Plein Air Competition, visit their website at www.mcmichael.com/event/virtual-en-plein-air, or call (905) 893-1121. This year’s virtual competition runs from July 1 – August 23, 2020.