| What's Inside:
- This week's Paint Out: Friday, July 3rd 9:00am Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park, Coto de Caza
- Quick Draw July 11 - Back Bay Plein Air Festival - Pre-Register by July 10
- Back Bay Plein Air Festival 2-Day Weekend Show/Sale, Zoom Mandatory Meeting at 3pm today
-August's Guest Demo Artist: Renae Wang Friday, August 14th, 9:00-11:00am Ruby's Diner, Laguna Beach
- Save the Dates for July 2026 Paint Outs
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- SOCALPAPA Referral List
- Order Your SOCALPAPA Name Badge & Name Plate
- Muth Display Gallery & Art Bin Reminders
- Download the SOCALPAPA APP
- SOCALPAPA Referral List
- Online Critique Group every Thursday on Zoom 10-11am
Shown: Club Members at Laguna Wilderness Park at Big Bend, courtesy of Kathy Thomas | | |  | Back Bay QUICK DRAW 2026 - Painting Competition & Sale
Saturday, July 11
8am - 1:30pm
Open to all artists
SOCALPAPA Members Fee: $30
Non Members Fee : $45
Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center
2301 University Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660
All artists must register online for the event by July 10th, 2026 or in-person at the check in table (cash only accepted) from 8-9am on the day of the event. Artists must have their canvas or paper stamped at the Muth prior to painting.
Stamping will commence on the deck at 8am July 11th. All painting must be done on site and completed by 11:30 am for the judging. Bring your wired frame ready to hang (no paper necessary)
Opportunity to win cash awards & other prizes!
| THE BACK BAY ART SHOW & SALE/ JURIED SHOW - REGISTRATION CLOSED
July 11-19, 2026 SALE July 18 & 19, 2026
Peter & Mary Muth Interpretive Center in Newport Beach, CA
6400 Mailers are going out to Newport Beach Homes This Week!
Next Steps for Registered Artists
1. Order your name badge and plate:
If you are registered and are participating in the summer Back Bay Event, a name badge and name plate are required.
Get ahead and order yours now! Log into 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.
2. If you did not attend the June 30th meeting, you must attend the Zoom required meetings:
TODAY, Wednesday July 1st via Zoom at 3pm in the afternoon.
Zoom Meeting Info:
Plein Air style artworks featuring the scenery of Back Bay, Orange County Parks, Beaches, and Wilderness are welcome during the 2-day weekend show. Please review the prospectus For additional details pertinent to your participation and come ready to ask questions at the meetings.
We are here for you!
Important Dates:
Saturday July 11- Juried Show opens to the Public
Saturday July 11- Quick Draw Competition (Open to ALL Artists, register on SOCALPAPA.com)
Friday July 17- Artists Recognition Gala, Juried show comes down
Saturday & Sunday July 18-19 - Weekend Show & Sale
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We are excited to announce the Volunteer Coordinators
who will be handling the 2026 Committees for our Back Bay Plein Air Art Festival:
Art Classes: Sandra Morrison <smorrissonbiz@gmail.com>
(instructor positions are filled)
Hospitality/ Membership Table: Kim Gordon <kimgordonstudio@gmail.com>
Quick Draw: Lorraine Dawson <lorrainedawsonart@gmail.com>
and Pam Steinmetz <psteinmetz@ymail.com>
Juried Show: Randi Moran <randi.moran1@gmail.com>
Ribbons : Dorothy Scott <dotscott1958@gmail.com>
Grid Set Up: Jeff Preston <Jeff.preston@verizon.net>
Please contact our Co-Chairs to volunteer and for more information or questions:
Kathy Carr
kvcarr@sbcglobal.net
Marisha Miller
marishamiller11@gmail.com
| Save The Date!
August Guest Demo Artist
Renae Wang
Friday, August 14
9:00-11:00am
Ruby's Diner
30622 Coast Highway, Laguna Beach CA
Please join us on Friday, August 14th from 9am to 11pm for a special demo by Guest Artist Renae Wang.
Renae, an oil painter and adjunct professor at LCAD (Laguna College of Art and Design), is known for her unique approach to painting "non-places" like gas stations, freeways and airports. For this demo, she will explain her unique point of view as she paints a local iconic spot: Ruby's Diner.
Questions? Contact: Denise Busony
denisebusony@gmail.com
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JULY 2026 PAINT OUT DATES and BACK BAY SHOW DATES
Friday, July 3
9:00am
Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park
$3.00 Parking Lot fee
Friday, July 10
Back Bay Show
DROP OFF for Back Bay Juried Show
10:00am-1:00pm
Muth Center Conference Room
Saturday, July 11
Back Bay Show
QUICK DRAW 2026 - Painting Competition & Sale
8am - 1:30pm
Meet 8:00am at Muth Center to get your canvas stamped
Members $30/Non-Members $45
Friday, July 17
Back Bay Show
Awards and Juried show Reception for Artists and VIP guests
PICK UP Quick Draw paintings at the Muth Center
6:00-8:30pm
Muth Center
Saturday, July18-19
Back Bay Show
Weekend Show and Sale
Loading times to be assigned
Show and Sale: 10:00am-4:00pm
Muth Center
Saturday, July 25
9:00am
Balboa Ferry and Pavilion
Friday, July 31
Mike Major Pastel Demo
8:00am
Moro Cove Overlook
State Park Fee $15.00
| | Friday, July 3
9:00am
Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park
30952 Oso Parkway, Coto de Caza, CA 92679
$3.00 Parking Lot fee
Take the 5 Freeway and exit East on Oso Parkway, Go a few miles and go past the 241 toll road, almost to the end T at Coto De Caza, You’ll see the Riley Park Sign. Enter parking lot, pay the $3 lot fee. Paint the meadows and views, or walk down the Tree path.
Restroom in lot | | | | Saturday, July 25
9:00am
Balboa Ferry and Pavilion
Newport Beach, CA
From the 5 Fwy or 405 take Jamboree South all the way down past Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) down into Marine Drive on Balboa Island, continue and go Right on Park Ave. all the way down and go Left on Agate. To avoid getting stuck behind the line of cars waiting for the Ferry, you may want to take the alley to the next street. Watch for Street Sweeper restrictions. Paint the Ferry or mini market, or Pavilion across the harbor.
Restrooms by the Ferry landing. | | | | Friday, July 31
Mike Major Pastel Demo
8:00am
Moro Cove Overlook
State Park Fee $15.
Take Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) North of Laguna Beach to the School/Ranger Station light. Follow the road and bear right and enter the gate.($15 fee) Just before going down to the beach, bear right and go the the end of the farthest South parking lot on top of the bluffs. Mike Major will be mentoring and demonstrating pastel over watercolor.
Bring your paints and lunch if you want to stay and paint.
Public restroom facilities are available right next to the parking lots that serve the Moro Cove Overlook and the adjacent Moro Canyon Day Use
| | |  | 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 Kim Gordon with your name and phone number.
Make sure to put "Referrals List" in the email subject line.
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 | 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 |
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 | 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.
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| 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!
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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.
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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 |
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 | 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 | |