For Artists

Open Division

Register to paint alongside the festival's invited artists. We recommend some prior plein air experience — spots are limited and go quickly.

At a Glance

Quick Facts

$30 Registration

Limited to 30 artists, first come, first served. A waiting list opens once registration is full.

28" x 28" Max Size

Maximum finished painting size, including the frame.

Stamp Before Painting

All canvases and substrates must be stamped at check-in before any painting begins.

40% Commission

Retained by the Ralston HINGE Creative District, a 501(c)(3), to fund future programming.

Getting Started

Registration & Check-In

Registration is $30 and limited to 30 artists, first come, first served. All 30 spots are now taken, so registration is closed and a waiting list is open. We highly recommend some prior plein air painting experience.

Check-in and canvas stamping begin at 10am on Monday, September 14th at the Ralston Baright Public Library (5555 S. 77th St, Ralston) and continue during regular library hours, 10am to 8pm, through noon on Thursday, September 17th. You'll receive your information packet, apron, tote bag, and lanyard, and have your canvases stamped.

All canvases and painting substrates must be stamped before you paint on them — no painting will be accepted without a prior stamp. You may have an unlimited number of surfaces stamped, but only one or two finished pieces may be submitted for exhibition and awards.

A liability release form and a W-9 are required from every Open Division artist at check-in.

The Work

Painting Requirements

Two-dimensional work only: oils, acrylics, watercolor, gouache, casein, pastel, or oil sticks.
Maximum finished size is 28" x 28", including the frame.
Paintings must be in quality frames, wired on the back for hanging. No unframed gallery-wrap canvases and no sawtooth hangers — no exceptions.
All work must be created outdoors, on location (en plein air). No painting from photographs or indoors.
You may have an unlimited number of canvases or substrates stamped, but only one or two finished pieces may be submitted for exhibition and awards.

Out in the Field

Where & How to Paint

Paint any or all four days, Monday September 14 through Thursday September 17, or as few as one — as long as you turn in at least one finished, framed painting on Friday morning.
Suggested painting locations and maps are in your information packet and on a festival app built by one of our volunteers. The Schedule page lists the week's paintout locations.
You're welcome and encouraged to paint during the Lunch Break Paintouts alongside the invited artists.
Be mindful of other artists — don't block their view when setting up near them.
Always ask permission before painting on private property.

Selling Your Work

Sales, Commission & Exhibition

All paintings must be for sale — no presales directly off your easel during the festival.
Direct potential buyers to the Public Exhibition & Sale: Friday evening (ticketed) or Saturday (free and open to the public). We'll have postcards available for you to hand out.
The Ralston HINGE Creative District retains a 40% commission on all sales, supporting future programming in the creative district.

Turn-In & Pickup

Turn in your finished paintings on Friday, September 18th, between 9am and noon at the Venues at the Granary (74th & Main St, Ralston). Submit one or two pieces for the sale, plus any extras as reserve — if a piece sells, we'll hang a reserve piece in its place. Unsold work must be picked up by 4pm on Saturday, September 19th; we can't be responsible for anything left after that.

Thursday, September 17

Third Thursday & the Judge's Lecture

Rick J. Delanty, our Awards Judge, presents a lecture on Impressionism from 5 to 6pm at the Baright Public Library.
Open Division artists attend free, a $25 value. RSVP to info@ralstonarts.org to reserve your ticket.
Afterward you're welcome to paint during the free “Tunes in Town Square” concert at the gazebo, 77th & Main, from 6 to 8pm.

Friday, September 18

Awards & the Collectors Reception

You're invited to the Collectors Preview Reception and Awards Presentation, 5:30 to 8pm at the Venues at the Granary. Awards are presented around 6:30pm.
Your lanyard and name tag are your admission. Additional tickets are on the Tickets page.
There are awards for both the Invited Featured Artist Division and the Open Division.
Please park in the lot in front of the Holiday Inn Express, next to the Liberty First Credit Union Arena at 73rd & Q St. We'll shuttle artists to the venue, or it's a short two-block walk.

Saturday, September 19

Quick Paint Competition

Entirely optional for Open Division artists. If you'd rather watch the others work, that's perfectly fine too.
Get your canvas stamped at the gazebo, 77th & Main, between 7:30 and 8:45am. This is a separate stamp from the main event. Coffee, rolls, and fruit will be waiting.
The competition runs from exactly 9 to 11am across the Ralston HINGE Creative District. A map is in your information packet.
Quick Paint pieces must be framed and wired. Turn them in inside the Venues at the Granary to add to your reserve.
Due to time constraints, only the invited featured artists' paintings are auctioned at noon at Granary Green.

Saturday, September 19

Public Exhibition & Sale

Saturday from 11am to 4pm at the Venues at the Granary. We hope you'll stay for it: collectors love meeting the artists.

September 21 to October 4

Online Exhibition

The online exhibition runs September 21 through October 4 and features the invited artists' work only.

After the Festival

Getting Paid

Checks for sold work are mailed to artists no later than October 15.

Questions?

Call Debra Joy Groesser at (402) 592-6552 or Susi Franco at (402) 331-6677.
Or email info@ralstonarts.org.

Registration Is Full

All 30 Open Division spots have been claimed and registration is now closed. To be added to the waiting list, email info@ralstonarts.org.

Already Registered? Pay Your $30 Fee

Pay Online

Mail a Check

Make checks payable to Ralston HINGE Creative District for $30 and mail to:

Ralston HINGE Creative District
5615 S. 77th St
Ralston, NE 68127

The brushes come out in

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September 13–19, 2026 · Douglas & Sarpy County, Nebraska

Don't miss a brushstroke.

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