| What's Inside:
- This week's Paint Out: Friday, March 6th @8am, Laguna Beach at Main Beach Lifeguard Tower
- NEW! 2-Day Plein Air Painting Workshop with Scott W. Prior April 11-12th
- 2-Day Watercolor Workshop with Geoff Allen March 14-15th, Waitlist only
- Cambria Paint Away March 30-April 3rd Information-Make your Reservations!
- Hortense Miller Garden March 28th - Registration needed
- Save the Dates for March 2026 Paint Outs
***
- Visit the Omnivision Member's Show 2026
- NEW! Add your Artist Info to a SOCALPAPA Referral List
- Order Your SOCALPAPA Name Badge & Name Plate!
- Muth Display Gallery & Art Bin Reminders
- Download the SOCALPAPA APP
- Online Critique Group every Thursday on Zoom 10-11am
Shown: Club Members at Shaw's Cove, Laguna Beach Paint Out
| | | NEW!
2-DAY PLEIN AIR PAINTING WORKSHOP with SCOTT W. PRIOR
FOR ALL MEDIA - Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Pastel
Award winning Instructor/Educator: Scott W. Prior
(with Artist's Assistant Francis Difronzo)
April 11-12, 2026
ENROLLMENT: Limited to 15 Students
COST: $250 per person |  | This 2-day painting workshop is intended for painters of all skill levels, working in a medium of the student's choice: oil, acrylic, watercolor, or pastel. It includes an in-depth painting demonstration by Mr. Prior, followed by group critiques and extensive one-on-one instruction between each student and instructor.
Scott W. Prior holds a BFA from The Academy of Art University in San Francisco and is a Signature Member of the California Art Club and Laguna Plein Air Painters Association. He has exhibited nationally, including shows at the Pasadena Museum of California Art, Frederick Weisman Museum of Art, Academy Art Museum in Easton MD, Autry Museum of the West, Bowers Museum, Langson Orange County Museum of Art in Irvine, and the Hilbert Museum.
|  | Hortense Miller Garden - MARCH 28th
There are a limited number of spaces available to SOCALPAPA Members to paint the beautiful gardens in Laguna Beach.
The Hortense Miller Garden has invited SOCALPAPA Members to paint at the historic Mid-Century Modern home built by the Millers in the 1950s.
Date Below for SOCALPAPA Members to view and paint the garden in yet another season.
Saturday, March 28 - OPEN HOUSE
(Meet at the Church, 635 High Drive)
3 spots: 9:15 - 11:45am
3 spots: 11:45 - 2:15pm
Register: Email Diane Lannon at diane.lannon@gmail.com
to reserve a spot and get parking information.
Link here for more information on the beautiful gardens:
| Cambria 2026
“Save the Dates" March 30-April 3, 2026
Detailed Itinerary Now Available, see link below! |  |
REMINDER!
The Cambria Trip is coming up and people that are going should make reservations soon!
Thanks again for your interest in the Cambria trip. It is always a fun location on California’s beautiful central coast and I know this year will be fantastic as well.
There is no charge for participating, and everyone is welcome to attend. Transportation, Food and Lodging is the responsibility of each individual. You are traveling and participating at your own risk.
The itinerary (click on link below) recommends locations and places of interest. Feel free to follow your own agenda. Painting with other SOCALPAPA members is always more fun! There are plenty of SOCALPAPA members that have been here before and can help you, if this is your first time. Enjoy the beauty of California's central coast.
Cambria is 250 miles North of Los Angeles on Hwy 1 and takes about 5 hours to travel there.
Paint locations for the five days will range from Ragged Point in the North to Montana de Oro State Park in the South. Subjects include barns, farms, beautiful coastline, boats, docks, historical buildings, wineries and plenty of green countryside.
Yes it can be cold, windy, rainy and foggy. Remember, it's Plein Air!
Make your reservations early. If you are not familiar with the area, Google Search “Where to stay in Cambria” for all the information you need.
DAILY ITINERARY & DETAILED INFORMATION:
For more information contact:
Al Carlson
Text or phone: (562) 884-7416 or email
| MARCH 2026 PAINT OUT DATES
Friday, March 6
8:00 am
Laguna Beach at Main Beach Lifeguard Tower
Saturday, March 14
9:00 am
Newport Beach Aquatic Center —Back Bay Kayak launching area
Friday, March 21
9:00 am
City of Orange Peters Canyon Reservoir
Changed Date to Friday March 27
9:00 am
*MENTOR PAINTER
On the Island by the Dana Point Harbor Sheriff’s Station
| | Friday, March 6
8am
Laguna Beach at Main Beach Lifeguard Tower
Corner of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and Broadway, metered parking on the street or in lots. Get there early to find a spot close to the tower. Paint the tower, or South towards the Hotel Laguna, or North towards the gazebo and Las Brisas Restaurant.
Restrooms over by the cliff or near the playground
| | | | Saturday, March 14
9am
Newport Beach Aquatic Center —Back Bay Kayak launching area
1 Whitecliffs Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Get ready for the Back Bay Show upcoming in July. Go South from the OC airport, on Irvine Avenue past the Muth Center at University Drive about a mile, go Left on Santiago at the light, wind around about a mile, go Left on Galaxy Drive and an immediate Right on Polaris Drive and go 1/4 mile down and go Left on Whitecliffs Drive/Northstar Lane, and bear Left to the Center. Paint the cliffs or kayaks.
Restrooms inside the Center
| | | | Friday, March 21
9am
City of Orange Peters Canyon Reservoir, Orange, CA 92705
Take Jamboree North from the 5 freeway for a few miles, and go Left on Canyon View Avenue, just before Chapman Avenue. Go Left into the parking lot across from Old Camp Drive. Paint the Lake views.
$3.00 Parking Fee
Restrooms by the parking lot.
| | | | Friday, March 27
9am
On the Island by the Dana Point Harbor Sheriff's Station/Harbor Patrol
MENTOR DAY - with Steve Sandborg
Take the 5 freeway South past San Juan Capistrano and exit Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway/PCH) into Dana Point on the short freeway, go past the Archway, and make an immediate Left on Dana Point Harbor Drive, go about 1/2 mile and go Left on Island Way across the bridge, go Left on Dana Drive to the South end at the Sheriff’s Station, park in the lot and meet on the walkway by the restrooms. This is where Mark Jacobucci had a demo last year. Paint the boats and harbor. Steve will be available for anyone who needs help.
Restrooms Close by
| | |  | | Omnivision: Art Across Boundaries
On View Now Through - April 10, 2026
OPEN Weekdays 8am to 4:30pm (closed on weekends)
Old Orange County Courthouse
211 W. Santa Ana Blvd.
Santa Ana, CA 92701
An exhibition that provides a unique space for SOCALPAPA members to display works that go beyond the limits of genre and media.
In collaboration with Orange County Parks. This show was featured in local print publications and received praise for the wide range of styles and genre as well as quality of member work.
Judge of Awards was artist Mark Fehlman.
Click on the link below to see the artists who were selected for awards in five painting categories.
Omnivision: Art Across Boundaries 2026
Contact Person for event:
Dawn Buckingham dbgfineart@gmail.com | Add your name to the Artist Referral List!
Dear SOCALPAPA Members,
From time to time, our club receives inquiries from event planners and prospective buyers who are looking to commission a plein air painting. These requests typically involve creating a painting of a special location, venue, or meaningful landscape.
We would like to compile a list of members who are interested in being considered for future commissioned work. When requests come in, we will share the list of interested artists with the inquiring party so they may contact you directly.
If you would like to be included on this referral list, please send an email to our Membership Director, Kim Gordon, with "Referral List" in the subject Line with the following:
- Your name (as you’d like it shared)
- Preferred contact information (email and/or phone)
- Website and/or social media links (if applicable)
Please note that inclusion on this list does not guarantee work; it simply allows us to connect interested clients with members who are open to commissions.We look forward to supporting opportunities for our artists and promoting the wonderful work within our Plein Air community.
Kim Gordon
Contact:
|  | Order Your Name Badge and Name Plate!
SOCALPAPA encourages members to wear name badges at all of our events and Paint Outs.
If you are entering the summer Back Bay Event, a name badge and name plate are required. Get ahead and order yours now!
Log in to the SOCALPAPA website, click Artists in the blue banner and look for Member Resources. Go to that page and you will find a button for ordering the badge and name plate. |  | Muth Bin Reminders
Since so many wonderful artists are now contributing to the bin at Muth, we want to remind you of a few guidelines.
1. All work displayed at Muth must be original plein air-style depicting outdoor locations in Orange County.
Animals, plants or people must be shown in a landscape setting.
2. Flat panels only, no foam-core backing or gallery wrap.
3. Mat board backing is suggested to make your work look more professional.
4. Obtain and attach a sales slip for each painting from the green SOCALPAPA notebook at the front desk, and fill out a form to list your work in the green book.
5. Paintings must be in a cellophane envelope.
6. Suggested minimum price: $50 for smaller paintings $75 for larger work.
7. Due to space considerations, we are no longer going to accept prints.
Thanks to you all,
Randi Moran |  | | Get the Club App on your phone!
NEW! Want to stay updated on what's happening, while you're on the go?
Access all the same SOCALPAPA information on your phone, using the Club Express app.
Register for events, check the calendar, renew your membership, and more -- all in an easy-to-use format on your phone.
The Club Express app is available for iPhone and Android users.
iPhone users -> head to the App Store
Android users -> head to the Google Play Store
Click here for instructions -- 3 easy steps -- how to download it and register!
|  | Did you know there are several ways to find out about the paint outs?
• Weekly Bulletin
• MeetUp group online
• Website events calendar
• Facebook & Instagram
ALSO
Occasionally our group gets approached for plein air painter referrals.
If you would like to be included on a roster, please email info@Socalpapa with your name and phone number.
Make sure to put "Referrals List" in the email subject line.
|
 | SOCALPAPA ZOOM
Zoom Group invites you to join us
every Thursday, from 10am -11am
This is a time for members to share their art, get feedback and connect with other artists over the web. All levels are welcome.
If you are not ready to share, join us anyway and get inspired!
Follow link below to join.
The passcode is 229461
Zoom |
|
 | Discover the SOCALPAPA Meetup Group and join our thriving community of plein-air painters in Southern California.
Get the latest updates, find out who is joining (we have 279 members now!) and connect with other artists on events such as our weekly paint outs, paint aways, Zoom meetings, special events and showcases!
If you haven't already joined, head over to the MeetUp website and join the group - it's free!
Your artistic community awaits you.
|
|
| GET SOCIAL!
Tag us in your paint out posts
#socal_papa & @socal_papa
on Instagram!
Post your photos on our FaceBook page!
Connect with and be inspired by our
fantastic group of artists!
|
GET INVOLVED!
The club is still looking for members to volunteer for
different committees and events this year.
There are a variety of different ways you can get involved, both large and small.
Contact Randi Moran if you want to help.
|
|
OUR SPONSORS
We continually wish to thank
our sponsors. Visit their links below and please continue to support their businesses.
Art Supply Warehouse
Blick Art Materials
Da Vinci Paint Co
Dakota Pastel Supples
Frame Xpress Long Beach
Fast Frame Irvine
Irvine Ranch Water District
KingofFrame.com
Paint Like a Pro - Debra Huse
Randy Higbee Gallery
Newport Bay Conservancy
OC Parks
Rosemary & Co Brushes
San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary
Teri Ludwig Pastels
Tim Smith Real Estate Group / Caldwell Banker Newport Beach
Viviva Colors
Watercolor West |
|
 | SOCALPAPA is a 501c3 organization
(Southern California Plein Air Painters Association)
~Our Mailing Address~
4790 Irvine Blvd, Ste 105-371
Irvine, CA 92620
Contact Us | |