Join Our Community of Outdoor Artists

Benefits of Membership

  • Paint In Community

    Participate in regularly scheduled paintouts and painting sessions. (GVPAP guarantees one paintout per month—we have been scheduling 4-5 per month in the warm months and 2-4 per month in the cold months.

  • Exhibit Your Artwork

    Members in good standing may enter their exclusively-plein air work in juried and judged art shows. Most GVPAP art shows are competitive.

  • Develop Your Craft

    Receive art information, demonstrations and workshops by experienced plein air painters.

“Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.”

— Camille Pissaro

Types of Membership

  • To be accepted as an Associate Artist Member of Genesee Valley Plein Air Painters Incorporated, a person must:

    • Be a practicing, aspirational and/or experienced plein air artist; be committed to pursuing plein air painting while striving for quality work and personal growth;

    • Honor the definition of plein air painting which states that 85% of a painting must be done on site in “plein air” (in open air; natural light). All painting mediums are welcome;

    • Be committed to participating in GVPAP paintouts and other activities [attendance at a minimum of three (3) GVPAP paintouts per year is required to maintain membership];

    • Be committed to helping and volunteering in GVPAP;

    • Honor the policies of GVPAP; promote the objectives and well being of the Corporation;

    • Be a resident of NYS living in the Greater Rochester Area known as the Genesee Valley/Finger Lakes Region;

    • Have an email address (mandatory).

  • Artists who have not yet painted outside can join GVPAP by fulfilling the Freshman Artist application. Freshman Artists enjoy the benefits of membership, however cannot participate in art shows until completing four plein air paintings. Once a Freshman Artist submits four JPEGs of those plein air paintings, the member becomes an Associate Artist. To join, request the GVPAP Freshman Artist Application.

  • A Signature Artist Member of Genesee Valley Plein Air Painters is an Associate Artist who has been accepted through the GVPAP jury process. This designation recognizes advanced plein air artists who have demonstrated a high level of skill and commitment to the art form.

Criteria for Membership

Criteria of membership in GVPAP are:

  • Applicants must have experience painting out of doors, on site, in “plein air" prior to application in GVPAP.

  • Applicants must adhere to GVPAP's definition of plein air painting that 85% of painting must be done on site in plein air (in open air; natural light at the location of the painting).

    • “Painting” mediums are painting in oil, soft pastel, water media, cold wax).

    • Using “drawing” implements and media such as pencils, pen, pen & ink, charcoal, etc. do not fall within the GVPAP definition of “painting”

  • .Applicants must be committed to paint in plein air regularly as well as participate in GVPAP paintouts. A minimum of three GVPAP paintouts per year is required annually.

  • Applicants must be willing to sign up and participate in volunteer opportunities

  • Applicants must be willing to promote GVPAP's mission, objectives, policies, guidelines as well as contribute to the well being of the organization.

Membership is contingent upon approval by the Board of Directors.

Applying for Membership

Email the following information to: paint@gvpap.com

  • Convey your art experience; particularly your plein air painting experience. Include frequency of painting plein air, your experience, training, medium(s), locations painting outdoors, etc.

  • Send jpeg samples (4 or more) of your plein air works. These paintings must be your own original work, and must not be done in a workshop or otherwise under the tutelage of an instructor, nor be aided by means of photography. Also, they must adhere to our standard of being 85% completed on site.
    NOTE: your plein air submissions are not judged for quality, but rather as confirmation of your commitment to the pursuit of painting outdoors.

  • Request the GVPAP Associate Artist Application.

Upon review of your inquiry and jpegs of plein air paintings, you will receive an application via email. You may then:

  • Complete and return the Associate Artist Membership application via mail;

  • Include a check for membership dues of $40 for program year October 1 through the following September 30.