Summer 2026

Next Event!

August 13 (Thursday) Bloom Flower Garden Black Mtn.
806 N Fork Rd, Black Mountain, NC 28711
MAP

Thursday August 13th, we’ll be at a new venue: The Bloom Flower Farm is located at 806 N Fork Rd, Black Mountain, NC 28711. Check out their website at www.bloomwnc.com and you’ll see a dazzling array of flowers and colors galore! I suspect this site will become a favorite.
We’ll begin at 9:30 and share out around 11:45, adjusting for weather if needed. This is a new site so I will arrive early to make sure folks know where to meet and park.

Almost all paint outs officially begin at 9:30 and go until noon, but you’re always welcome to arrive a bit early and stay later.

Remember to always check the Facebook page, our website, and the weekly Mailchimp for changes. I’ve done my best to create a tentative schedule for the entire year but things do come up, and changes do have to be made.

North Carolina is blessed with many local plein air groups. If you haven’t done so I suggest you go to their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/451223895905067 If you find yourself traveling, what better way to see our state than painting with other plein air artists?

Where We’ve been in 2026

Check the Galleries to see past locations of our paint-outs!

A few words as to how I select these spots, as a lot of consideration goes into doing so. I try to find spots that represent as much as Buncombe County as possible, south, north, east, and west. Our members live in various parts of the area and I strive to be as considerate of that as I can. I also try to diversify the scenes, although it seems we do lean heavily on places near water. I’ll try to do better at balancing that.
Sufficient parking is a must, and nearby bathroom facilities, while not an absolute, certainly are a plus. I do want to incorporate more “urban” settings such as our August 20th event in downtown Weaverville, as well as September paint outs in the River Arts District and downtown Asheville. As of now I have us scheduled through mid November; we’ll add others as the weather dictates. I hope I’ve done a better job of organizing things and I’m always open to new ideas and positive suggestions.

With several newcomers joining us we’ve had a few posts asking how the group works. It’s easy. Events are listed here, on our Facebook page, Instagram, or at Ashevillepleinair.com There is no membership fee or costs of any sort, with the exception of special events such as demos and workshops. Find a paint out that fits your schedule and come join us! With very rare exceptions, all of our paint outs start at 9:30 and wrap up around noon; except for a few selected sites, of which I will make note, you’re welcome to arrive a bit early and stay late. We’re a VERY flexible group.

Of course if you’re new to plein air and have questions about materials and such or would like to be added to our mailing list, feel free to email me at jjcassara@gmail.com
I hope you’re encouraged to come out and paint with us!

Planned Schedule of activities – subject to change, so check Website, Facebook or Calendar!

Some changes I am proposing: Last year’s alternating Tuesday/Thursday schedule seemed to work well, but it still leaves out those who work during the week. I’m suggesting we move to a three weekday paint outs and one Saturday per month format. If anyone wants to host a fourth weekday, PLEASE let me know. But I find myself unable to attend four (and sometimes five) paint outs per month. We are the only local group who maintains a weekly schedule, but with my teaching work and desire to travel more I need to scale back a bit.

email List:

If you would like to be added, please email James Cassara at jjcassara@gmail.com 

If you want to share your paintings for the event day, post them on the Facebook site or send them to Rosemarie and we’ll add them to our galleries for each paint-out. We also have a general gallery for each month which you can share something you’ve done during the month.

Also note: If the weather looks very bad we will post to the Facebook page and our website that a paint out has been cancelled. Always check those places the morning of the event to be sure. If the weather is “iffy” it’s left up to your discretion whether or not to go.


August 2026

Sandy Moore – August 2022

From James:

Upcoming Activities:

August 13 (Thursday)  Bloom Flower Garden Black Mtn.
August 18 (Tuesday)  Wall St. Downtown 9:30-noon, and let’s count on staying for lunch
August 27 (Thursday)  Afternoon 4-6:30 at Leicester Library Community Garden
September 1 (Tuesday)  private gardens of group member Byron Shaw
September 10 (Thursday)  (tentatively set)  Zealandia Castle
September 15 (Tuesday)   Woodfin Community Garden
September 26 (Saturday)  RR Station in Black Mountain

The weather has certainly impacted our planned events, more so than in quite a while, but that’s okay. My gardens and I are grateful for the rain, helping to compensate for the very dry winter and spring. But it has caused me to reshuffle a few paint outs, so please read these dates carefully and mark your calendars.

Our next paint out is this Thursday, August 13th, at The Bloom Flower Garden located at 806 N Fork Rd, Black Mountain, NC 28711. We’ll begin at 9:30 and share out around 11:45, adjusting for weather if needed. This is a new site so I will arrive early to make sure folks know where to meet and park.

The following week, on Tuesday the 18th, we’ll be in downtown Asheville on Wall St. We’ll meet at 9:30 at the bottom of the painted steps, just outside of the Wall St. Parking Garage. Feel free to find a place to paint and we’ll gather again at 11:45 to share out and make lunch plans. I would love for us to plan on staying for lunch as a way of community building. I also suggest doing a tour of the Woolworth Walk art collective, just a short block away. Please plan on staying if you can.

Our final gathering of August will be on Thursday the 27th at the Leicester Library and Community Garden. This is a makeup date for the morning we were rained out. This will be an afternoon event, gathering at 4 and painting until 6:30. I’ve made this change due to the library having their story time (which attracts a lot of families and limits parking) in the morning AND in response to group members who are unable to paint during the work day. I do try to make our events as inclusive as possible. Given the possibility of rain I suggest bringing an umbrella if you have one. There are some covered areas from which to paint if need be.

Looking ahead:
Tuesday, September 1st we’ll be at the private gardens of group member Byron Shaw, located at 80 Edgemont Rd. near the Grove Park Inn. Besides the gardens there are many historic and fascinating homes nearby.
Thursday the 10th is tentatively set for Zealandia Castle (I’m waiting on confirmation) and Tuesday the 15th finds us at the beautiful Woodfin Community Garden, a new site that I’ve been volunteering with for the past 20 months. It’s a place near and dear to my heart and one I hope you’ll embrace. We’ll then wrap up September with a Saturday visit on the 26th to the RR Station in Black Mountain. I may have a commitment in the morning so unless I can adjust my schedule let’s plan on making this an afternoon event. Details on these paint-outs will be forthcoming.

Big News:
If you participated in the inaugural Montford Plein Air Festival you know how successful it was. Over 65 artists gathered for three days of painting in one of Asheville’s most historic and beautiful areas. Organizer Matt Levins has announced plans for a fall edition, taking place the weekend of October 16-18, with a rain date of November 6-8. Details can be found at https://www.montfordarts.com

More stuff:
Besides the Montford Plein Air Festival here’s a few ideas for November, dates to be determined: A Saturday trip to the Greenville Art Museum and painting thereabouts. An evening paint out at Riverside Cemetery, and a trip to beautiful Saluda (30 minutes south of Asheville) where I spent yesterday sketching. It’s a great place to paint, visit a gallery or two, and enjoy lunch.

Keep looking ahead, stay well, and as always be good to yourself and those around you.
James

Trip to Asheville Art Museum – March 12, 2026

If you haven’t checked out Asheville Art Supply in the previous Cheap Joe’s location, be sure to do so. I am incredibly impressed with the work the new owners and returning staff have done to ensure we have an independent art supply store in our area. They have great plans to make this store the best it can be, so please be sure to support them. We are so fortunate to have a locally owned place to buy the tools we need from knowledgeable folks.

Highlights from “Y” not make art with kids?

From James: Thanks to Woodfin YMCA staff member Ashley Phillips for helping to organize things, making a last minute supply run, and taking these photos.
Great fun painting with kids and their families at the YMCA on Beaverdam Rd. All photos shared with permission.
From Deborah Hughes: We brought our granddaughter Iris along to the the paint out at the YMCA Saturday. It was an everything, everywhere all at once kind of happening. Kids getting into paint running around, a melt down or two, some fire ants. But a lot of fun was had and the snacks, pizza, and watermelon were very welcome. This 12 x 12 oil is very different composite illustration in which I strive to capture the essence of the morning.

Be sure to also check out the events sponsored by the Hendersonville Plein Air Painters, found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/381293125729349, as well as our friends in Haywood County ( https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063680940353) Lots of opportunities to meet folks and plein air paint.

Please note: Unless otherwise stated, all events begin at 9:30 and finish up with an optional sharing at noon. This is not a “critique”, but rather an opportunity to meet other members and see what they’ve done.

In the spirit of friendship I’d like to gently remind folks to please limit side conversations during our sharing time. I fully understand the need to socialize at our paint outs, but I also want to be respectful of the artists who are sharing their efforts, as well as those who have diminished hearing or soft voices. Let’s all do a bit better!

Helene

Yesterday (October 19th) I made my first trip into the River Arts District. I thought I was prepared for the level of destruction but it’s far worse than I could have imagined. Please keep all those artists in your thoughts, and look for the many ways we can help and support them in this most difficult of times.

The Asheville Artists Network Facebook Page I co-moderate has been a great resource for those who need help. If you’re unfamiliar with us, we can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ashevilleartscene

Stay well friends. Together, we will get through this. I firmly believe our city and the arts community will emerge stronger than ever.