2025 Schedule
7th Converse First Brush of Fall
WHAT: Still free to artists: Indiana Plein Air Painters Association (IPAPA) and Art Nature host this biennial event that began in 2015.
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, but artists are welcome to arrive Sept. 17, 18, 19.
Nocturnal: Friday Sept. 19, informal but fun for those artists arriving early
WHERE: Registration for early arrivals is at the Converse Library, 10-6 p.m. All others must register at the Masonic Temple, 104 N. Madison St., Saturday Sept. 20 —this includes a breakfast, courtesy of the Free Masons. A free will donation is appreciated but not necessary.
Canvas Stamping: All works for adjudication must be stamped either at the Library Wednesday-Friday or at the Saturday morning Masonic Temple Registration.
Weather Warning: Converse is a unique micro-climate in Indiana. When it’s raining everywhere, Converse is dry; when it’s forecast to be 90, Converse can be cold until it’s 90 degrees in the afternoon, or the reverse.
Judging and Sale: Artists may set up sales of what they painted from this event only, this year or the previous years. Set up at the downtown, Brandon and Jefferson streets, Converse Commons by 3:30 p.m.; (The public has been told music and artwork sales begin at 3:30) IN CASE OF RAIN during sales and judging, the rain location will be 109 E. Wabash St., Converse Historical Society, formally the Methodist Church.
—Artists may submit one stamped work, for adjudication that was painted at this year’s event, on an easel they provide. Set up along the wall of the First Farmers Bank and Trust. It is recommended you weigh down the easel and artwork due to winds—Artists are to sell their other Converse works across the street in the park.
Judging will begin at 4 p.m. and artists all should leave the judging area and be in the park during judging.
Awards: Five $500 awards are given at this event rather than places.
Awards will be on stage in the park between 4:30 and 5 p.m.
Pre-register by emailing avonwaters@yahoo.com Pre-registration is appreciated to help plan this event — we are a small staff of 2. That goes for policing the sales too: if you see artists setting up as though it is a street fair, please remind them only works painted at any of the First Brush of Fall Converse events is eligible for exhibition and sale.
Sales: No commissions. This event typically has good sales, but the country folk often miss it because of harvest times or they don’t don’t realize how fast it sets up and tears down. This is why we allow any past Converse event paintings to be for sale at each printout we host.
Any questions; email avonwaters@yahoo.com
FRANKLIN COUNTY’S PLEIN AIR PAINT OUT
To RSVP: Call: 765.647.4031, Text: 513.763.0889,
or Email susan@fclibraries.org
www.fclibraries.org
OCTOBER 17-19, 2025
THE FINAL STROKE OF FALL
Friday, Oct. 17 – 9:00 to 6:00 - Registration
Friday, Oct. 17– 7:00 – Program
Saturday, Oct. 18 – 7:00 Dinner
RSVP- free for Artists, $13 for Guests,
(Courtesy of the Franklin Co. Public Library District’s Art Committee)
Sunday, Oct. 19 – 12:00 Lunch
RSVP - free for Artists, $7 for Guests
(Courtesy of the Richmond Art Museum)
Sunday, Oct. 19—1:00-3:00 Show & Sale
All events take place at the Brookville Public Library
Sponsored by the
Franklin County Public Library District
Brookville Public Library, 919 Main Street, Brookville, IN 47012
2025 Event Schedule
• January 17 - 19 – Painting Retreat at Waycross, Morgantown
• February 15 – Paint-in Brown County Art Guild, Nashville
• March 9 – Annual Meeting, Glendale Library Branch, Indianapolis
• April 23 - 26 – First Brush of Spring, Paint-out & Competition, New Harmony
• May 24 – Holcomb Gardens Paint-out, Butler University, Indianapolis
• June 6 & 7 – Strawberry Festival Paint-out & Competition, Kokomo
• June 20 - 25 – Swope Art Museum Paint-out & Competition, Terre Haute
• July 12 – Richmond Art Museum Paint-out, Lunch & Sale, Richmond
• August 2 – Sullivan Munce Paint-out, Lunch & Competition, Zionsville
• September 13 – T. C. Steele Great Outdoor Art Contest, Nashville
• September 18 - 20 – First Brush of Fall, Competition & Sale, Converse
• October 17-19 – Paint-out, Dinner, Lunch & Sale, Brookville
• November - December – Member Show, Brown County Art Gallery
IPAPA CURRENT EVENTS
IPAPA Calendar
Schedule — Indiana Plein Air Painters Association
Also check out the IPAPA Facebook group often for more opportunities for all artists
If you missed the annual meeting or you want to see this slide show again-Feel free to click on this link to watch IPAPA’s year in review 2024. Thank you to Aaron Pickens for putting this together!
You may have to open the link in a new window on your browser
Year In Review 2024 - YouTube