About Capital Plein Air
Capital Plein Air (CaPA) is an annual outdoor painting festival in Canberra that brings together over 150 artists from across Australia to paint the landscape directly from life. Held during Canberra’s vibrant autumn season, the festival transforms some of the capital’s most iconic locations into open-air studios. Through live painting, demonstrations, exhibitions and public events, Capital Plein Air celebrates creativity, community and the enduring tradition of painting in the landscape.
Everyone is Welcome
Capital Plein Air Festival celebrates the diversity of Australia’s artistic community and welcomes artists and visitors of all backgrounds, identities, abilities and experience levels — including members of the LGBTQ+ community. We believe outdoor painting is enriched when everyone feels safe, respected and able to participate fully in the creative experience.
As an event held across a variety of outdoor and public spaces, we recognise that accessibility needs can vary widely. Our team is committed to improving inclusion and access across festival locations, information and programming, and we encourage participants to contact us with any specific requirements. We will do our best to support these needs where possible, acknowledging that some environments or conditions may have natural limitations.
At CaPA, our culture is built on kindness, community and respect. We ask all artists, partners, volunteers and attendees to help us maintain a welcoming environment where everyone — regardless of identity, background, age, mobility, or artistic experience — feels valued and included.
Whether you are painting, learning, volunteering, or simply enjoying the festival atmosphere, you are welcome here.
Our Mission
We aim to engage Australian artists through an outdoor painting experience that emphasises not just participation, but genuine artistic growth, community connection, and the celebration of painting outdoors. By providing access to Canberra’s most picturesque locations—from the National Arboretum to historic Tharwa and the serene Cotter River—we create opportunities for artists to challenge themselves, learn from one another, and contribute to Australia’s vibrant plein air tradition.
CaPA Committee
Natasha Ruschka is an award-winning Australian artist and instructor with a passion for cultivating creativity and community through outdoor painting. Inspired by the dynamic USA outdoor painting scene she first experienced in 2018, Natasha is committed to bringing similar opportunities to Australian artists, emphasizing camaraderie and a drive for artistic depth and quality.
Chan Dissanayake is a multi-award-winning watercolour artist living in Canberra, Australia. Over the years he has represented Australia on International watercolour delegations.
With 20 years of experience in painting, teaching and leading international tours, he shares a deep passion for outdoor painting. Known for his generosity in sharing his knowledge, Chan has gained considerable reputation as an outstanding tutor.
Rosanna is a passionate plein air painter and a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the best vantage points in Canberra in any season or any weather. She has spent over a decade working in community arts and coordinating weekly plein air paint outs and is also on the committee of the Queanbeyan Arts Society. We thank them for sharing her with us all
Greg is a seasoned professional with 30 years of experience in global business operations with
comprehensive expertise in risk management, contract negotiation, and financial oversight. His background in heavy asset industries combined with volunteer emergency services experience
provides valuable safety and risk management skills to our events.
Why Capital Plein Air Matters
"Plein air painting is the biggest art movement in history"
- Eric Rhodes, CEO Streamline Publishing USA
Internationally, the plein air movement thrives. In the USA, an annual calendar features over 300 plein air events, including a national conference attracting 1,500+ attendees. Artists from around the world participate to improve their skills, compete for prizes, connect with fellow painters, and experience new locations. In Europe, festivals like the UK’s “Art in the Open” in Wexford, Ireland, have been running for 16+ years, inspiring numerous spin-off events.
Australia has a proud outdoor painting heritage dating back to our Australian Impressionist movement of the late 19th century, with internationally recognised artists like Arthur Streeton painting alongside the European Impressionists in France. Yet until recently, the plein air movement in Australia hadn’t kept pace with the USA and Europe.
Now, that’s changing. Australia is home to just two national plein air festivals: Plein Air Down Under (PADU) in Western Australia, founded by Leon Holmes and the Mandurah Plein Air Painting Society, and Capital Plein Air—the first and only national plein air event on Australia’s east coast. Capital Plein Air aims to engage Australian artists through an outdoor painting event that is dedicated to helping reinvigorate and elevate the Plein Air Painting movement in Australia once again. Our festival will bring more people (young and old) to the outdoor painting experience whilst encouraging not just involvement, but also camaraderie and development of the artistic depth and skill of Australian painters.