Hilton Head Island Plein Air Paint Out
Capture the beauty of the Lowcountry during Art League’s first inaugural Hilton Head Island Plein Air Paint Out, taking place April 9–10, 2026. This two-day outdoor painting event offers participants the opportunity to paint en plein air at stunning locations throughout Hilton Head Island, celebrating the region’s natural landscapes, coastal light, and distinctive sense of place.
The Paint Out will be judged by acclaimed artist Catherine Hillis, with a $1,000 first-place prize awarded to the top entry. Registration for the Paint Out is $75 for the public, or $50 for Art League members.
After painting en plein air during the Hilton Head Island Plein Air Paint Out (April 9–10, 2026), artists are invited to present up to two finished works at Art League Gallery for our Wet Paint Gallery public display.
To be included in judging and awards consideration, eligible paintings must be delivered to Art League Gallery no later than 3 PM on Friday, April 10. Artists may leave submitted work on display for public viewing through 4 PM on Saturday, April 11.
Artists may also choose to extend the experience by participating in a lively Quick Draw competition on April 11, a fast-paced, crowd-favorite event available as an optional $25 add-on. Art League instructor Carol Iglesias will judge the Quick Draw. The Quick Draw will be held at Shelter Cove Marina.
Quick Rules Summary
Registration & Check-In
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Registration is required.
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Surface stamping/check-in is required before beginning any eligible painting. Only stamped surfaces are eligible for Wet Paint Gallery display and awards.
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A signed waiver will be collected at stamping/check-in.
Painting Requirements
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Paint Out dates: Thursday–Friday, April 9–10, 2026
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Artwork must be created en plein air (outside, from life, in natural lighting) during the event timeframe. Interiors are allowed only in difficult weather.
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Artwork must be two-dimensional.
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Accepted media: oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, ink, mixed media, and pastel.
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Prohibited: AI-generated imagery, projection/tracing/transfer methods, and primarily digital processes.
Surfaces & Submission Limits
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Artists may stamp an unlimited number of surfaces, but may submit up to two (2) finished works for Wet Paint Gallery display and awards.
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Surfaces must be blank prior to stamping (a solid toned base coat is allowed).
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Paper must be a single sheet and presentation-ready (pads/blocks that obscure stamping are not eligible).
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Maximum size: 40 inches on the longest dimension (including frame).
Wet Paint Gallery (Art League Gallery)
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Gallery hours: Thu–Sat, April 9–11 | 10:00 AM–04:00 PM
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To be included in judging/awards, eligible work must be delivered by 03:00 PM on Friday, April 10.
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Work may remain on public display through 04:00 PM Saturday, April 11.
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Pick-up deadline: immediately after the Awards Reception or by 04:30 PM Saturday, April 11.
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Work must be ready to hang (wired; framed with an open back so the stamp is visible) or gallery-wrapped.
Sales, Commission & Minimum Pricing
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Artwork may be offered for sale at the artist’s discretion, or marked NFS (not for sale).
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If a piece is offered for sale and displayed in the Wet Paint Gallery sale area, a price is required and must be $400 minimum.
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If a piece is offered for sale during the Quick Draw sale window, a price is required and must be $200 minimum.
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If priced for sale, Art League Gallery retains a 40% commission and processes all sales.
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Artists may not conduct independent sales on-site; all sales must be handled through Art League procedures.
Awards
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Awards Reception: Friday, April 10 | 05:00–07:00 PM at Art League Gallery
Judge: Catherine Hillis
Optional Quick Draw (Shelter Cove Marina)
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Add-on fee: $25 (limited spots) | Judge: Carol Iglesias
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Schedule: 08:00–09:00 AM check-in/stamp | 09:00–11:00 AM paint | 11:00 AM–12:00 PM turn-in/setup | 12:00–12:30 PM judging/awards | 12:30–01:00 PM public viewing/sale | 01:00 PM pickup
Questions: 843.681.5060 | info@artleaguehhi.org
Art League Gallery: 14 Shelter Cove Ln., Hilton Head, SC
Event Schedule
Plein Air Paint Out (Island-wide)
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Thursday–Friday, April 9–10, 2026: Two-day Plein Air Paint Out at approved locations across Hilton Head Island
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Stamping/Check-in: Required before starting any eligible work. Stamping begins at 08:00 AM on April 9 at Art League Gallery.
Wet Paint Gallery Public Display & Sale (Art League Gallery)
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Thursday–Saturday, April 9–11 | 10:00 AM–4:00 PM: Wet Paint Gallery open to the public (fresh work on display)
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Friday, April 10 | 3:00 PM: Deadline to deliver eligible paintings to Art League Gallery to be included in judging/awards
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Friday, April 10 | 5:00–7:00 PM: Awards Reception (Art League Gallery)
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Saturday, April 11 | Through 4:00 PM: Public viewing continues
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Saturday, April 11 | By 4:30 PM: Artist pick-up deadline for submitted work
Quick Draw Competition (Shelter Cove Marina)
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Saturday, April 11 | 8:00 AM–1:00 PM
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8:00–9:00 AM: Check-in & stamping
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9:00–11:00 AM: Painting window (brushes down at 11:00 AM)
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11:00 AM–12:00 PM: Turn-in & setup for judging/sale (must be ready to display)
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12:00–12:30 PM: Judging & awards
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12:30–1:00 PM: Public viewing & sale window
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1:00 PM: Pickup & breakdown complete
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Hilton Head Island Plein Air Paint Out
Approved Painting Locations (A–Z) — GPS Addresses + Timing Notes
Event dates: April 9–10, 2026
Parking: No beach parking fees (per event plan)
Burkes Beach Access
GPS address: 60 Burkes Beach Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
What it’s best for: Dunes + big sky + clean horizon studies.
Best time: Early morning for calm surf and softer shadows; late afternoon for warmer light.
Notes: Parking is limited at the access point; additional parking is available nearby at Chaplin Community Park.
Chaplin Community Park
GPS address: 11 Cast Net Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
What it’s best for: Maritime greenery, shaded paths, and staging for nearby beach scenes.
Best time: Morning or late afternoon for long shadows and softer contrast.
Notes: Convenient overflow parking for Burkes Beach.
Coastal Discovery Museum (Historic Honey Horn)
GPS address: 70 Honey Horn Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
What it’s best for: Live oaks, marsh edges, gardens, and historic Lowcountry structures.
Best time: Mid-morning through afternoon (after gates open) for varied subjects and light.
Notes: Grounds open 9:00 AM–4:30 PM.
Coligny Beach Park
GPS address: 1 Coligny Circle, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
What it’s best for: Iconic beach scenes—figures, palms, boardwalk energy.
Best time: Sunrise through late morning for best light and fewer crowds; late afternoon for color.
Notes: High-traffic area—arrive early for easiest parking and set-up.
Driessen Beach Park
GPS address: 64 Bradley Beach Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
What it’s best for: Boardwalk-to-beach compositions; dunes, sea oats, leading lines.
Best time: Early morning for dune shadows and low glare; late afternoon for warmer tones.
Notes: The boardwalk is great for framing vegetation and perspective lines.
Fish Haul Beach Park
GPS address: 124 Mitchelville Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
What it’s best for: Port Royal Sound views, tidal textures, birdlife, quieter natural scenes.
Best time: Morning for wildlife activity; late afternoon for dramatic sky and reflections.
Notes: Tides can expose wide flats—plan compositions accordingly.
Jarvis Creek Park
GPS address: 50 Jarvis Creek Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
What it’s best for: Reflections, bridges, wooded paths, Spanish moss and park vignettes.
Best time: Morning for still water reflections; late afternoon for warm light through trees.
Notes: Multiple viewpoints around the lake make it easy to move with the light.
Rowing & Sailing Center at Squire Pope Community Park
GPS address: 133 Squire Pope Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
What it’s best for: Boats, docks, Skull Creek water views; strong horizontals and silhouettes.
Best time: Late afternoon into sunset for golden reflections and backlit rigs.
Notes: Great spot for nautical subjects and wide compositions.
Shelter Cove Harbour & Marina
GPS address: 1 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
What it’s best for: Harbor scenes—masts, reflections, waterfront architecture, people studies.
Best time: Late afternoon into early evening for warm light and reflections; blue hour for lights-on atmosphere.
Notes: Expect foot traffic—keep walkways clear.
Zion Cemetery and Baynard Mausoleum (Zion Chapel of Ease Cemetery)
GPS address: 574 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island, SC
What it’s best for: Historic stonework + moss-draped oaks; quiet, contemplative compositions.
Best time: Morning or late afternoon for softer light under the oak canopy and stronger mood.
Notes: Near the intersection of William Hilton Parkway and Mathews Drive; paint respectfully and keep setups unobtrusive.
Do I have to participate in the Wet Paint Gallery?
No. The Wet Paint Gallery is optional, but strongly encouraged as an added opportunity to exhibit and sell fresh work created during the event. Artworks must meet the selling criteria listed in the rules and guidelines.
Where do I check in?
All artists must check in at Art League Gallery for stamping before beginning to paint. Only stamped surfaces are eligible for judging, awards, and Wet Paint Gallery display. Stamping is available beginning at 8:00 AM on April 9 at Art League Gallery located at 14 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928.
What makes a painting eligible for awards?
Eligible paintings must be created en plein air at an approved location during the event and on a stamped surface, with no additional studio work afterward.
What media can I use?
Oils, acrylics, watercolor, gouache, pastel, graphite or charcoal, ink, and mixed media are permitted. AI-generated work, projection, tracing, and digital printing are not permitted.
How do sales work in the Wet Paint Gallery?
All sales are processed through Art League Gallery and a 40% gallery commission applies. Sold works remain on display until the designated release time.
What if the weather is an issue?
Hilton Head weather changes quickly. Artists should plan for sun, wind, and intermittent rain. Event staff will share updates if conditions require adjustments.
Is Quick Draw included in registration?
No. Quick Draw is a separate add-on with limited spots and its own check-in.
Judges
We are honored to welcome two celebrated artists to judge this year’s events: Catherine Hillis for the Paint Out awards and Carol Iglesias for Quick Draw. Read their full bios below.
Catherine Hillis has enjoyed the arts all her life. She won awards for her artwork as a child and was a musician in high school and college. She acted and modeled in print and television ads as a youngster, later majoring in Theatre at the University of Georgia. She knew she would always be involved in the arts in some way.
After receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts, cum laude, from the University of Georgia, Hillis continued her Master of Fine Art studies at the University of Texas. Her journalist husband’s career took her to different cities, finally settling in the Virginia and Washington D.C. area, where she established her reputation as a fine art watercolor artist and a popular instructor. In late 2017, she moved to St. Simons Island, on the coast of southern Georgia, to continue her work, inspired by the Lowcountry, the beach and the spirit of the area.
Hillis works both in the studio and outdoors. During the past few years, the artist has traveled extensively to plein air competitions, fulfilling her love for painting nature and history. She is drawn to scenes that are often forgotten or neglected and finds the intrinsic beauty in them. Hillis believes that observation is her best teacher and she is known for the effect of light and movement in her work.
Hillis has won hundreds of awards and honors at competitive shows regionally and nationally. She’s earned eight Signature Memberships from national watercolor organizations and was one of 40 elected members of the prestigious Washington Society of Landscape Painters. The artist regularly competes in international watercolor exhibitions as well as plein air competitions and invitational shows. Her painting, “Gift From the Sea,” was recently included in an international watercolor exhibition in the Quingdao Laotian Museum of Art, China and she served as artist in residence in Dinan, France (2007) and at Hot Springs National Park (2010).
Catherine Hillis was a respected instructor teaching classes at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, VA and at Frederick Community College as well as workshops nationally and abroad. Her watercolor paintings are included in museum, corporate and personal collections and have been published in many venues, including Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine, Watercolor Artist Magazine, Plein Air Magazine, American Artist Magazine, Splash 12, Splash 14, Splash 18, the Artistic Touch series of water-media books, The Washington Post, the Best of America Watercolor Artists & Artisans, Volume 1 and the Best of Virginia Artists & Artisans 2005. Hillis teaches a series of brief watercolor lessons on MonkeySee.com.
Please visit catherinehillis.com for more information regarding galleries, original artwork and classes or email catherine.h.hillis@gmail.com.
Catherine Hillis Studios, LLC | www.thecharlesstreetgallery.com
The Pedicure by Catherine Hillis
A Gift From the Sea by Catherine Hillis
CAROL IGLESIAS was born in Montreal, Canada, studied art in the Pacific Northwest and lives on Hilton Head Island. She is an award winning artist, plein air painter, instructor and juror who has exhibited her paintings extensively at galleries, museums and shows. Recently, she won first place in Pastel at the Society of Bluffton Artists 29th Annual Judged Show and was accepted into the Biennale 28th National Juried Exhibition. Relocating to the island has been the inspiration for her recent work..
Carol enjoys teaching oils, pastels and plein air painting. She employs a colorful impressionistic style and has taught specialized workshops over the last 23 years including at the Workhouse Arts Center outside of Washington D.C.
She is currently a member of The American Impressionist Society, Oil Painters of America, The Pastel Society of America, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association and Southeastern Pastel Society.
Carol’s paintings are in public and private collections throughout the U.S. and in five countries. Her work has been published in newspapers, magazines and books, including The Freelance Star, Le Petit Bleu des Cotes d’ Amour, Quest France, Elan Magazine, American Art Collector Magazine, The Piedmont Virginian Magazine, The Best of America Pastel Artists, Volume II, 2017 American Art Collector Book, The Hilton Head Island Sun, and The Bluffton Sun.
In 2012 she was awarded a prestigious Artist Residency for one month at Les Amis de la Grande Vigne in Dinan, France. One of Carol’s paintings was selected for the Museum’s permanent collection and was on exhibition in France during 2013 and again in 2019.
“Sunset on the Beach” Pastel by Carol Iglesias
Impressionist Painting in Plein Air (Oils, Acrylics, or Pastels; All Skill Levels)
Instructor: Carol Iglesias
Cost: $330 ($297 for members)
Register
Plein Air Painting in Watercolor (Beginner-Intermediate & Advanced)
Instructor: Catherine Hillis
Cost: $380 ($342 for members)
Register
Whether you’re a seasoned plein air painter or looking to try painting outdoors for the first time, the Hilton Head Island Plein Air Paint Out offers an inspiring way to connect with the landscape, the local arts community, and fellow artists.
To register, call (843) 842-5738 or click here.