I got accepted to a plein air painting festival where I'll be painting live in public spaces. I'm not a landscape painter and have no idea what I'm doing. What should I bring and how should I market myself during the event?

For live painting events, focus on making it easy for interested people to connect with you later. Print a QR code on the back of your shirt or t-shirt with a call-to-action like ‘Scan Me.’ Also place a QR code on the back of your easel. These QR codes should link to something valuable—ideally a giveaway entry form to capture email addresses. Have printed materials ready to hand out (business cards, brochures, or half-page flyers with your information and QR code). The most important element is the personal conversation you have with people who stop to watch. The printed material only matters if they remember the connection you made—without that conversation, it’s just a piece of paper they’ll throw away. Tell people what to do next: ‘Follow me on Instagram where I paint live once a month’ or direct them to your giveaway. If you can, have someone record short video clips (even just 15 seconds) of you painting—don’t be afraid to ask strangers. You can even incentivize them: ‘I’ll give you double entry in my giveaway if you record 15 seconds of me painting.’ For the painting itself, if landscapes aren’t your strength, do an abstract interpretation of the landscape instead.

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Asked by an artist preparing for their first plein air festival · Answered by Juan · Office Hours · 2026-07-16