Open to all AIS members, our Paint Out will be exhibited at Cassens Fine Art Gallery in Hamilton, Montana for one day, Saturday, August 2. No fee to participate,  preregistration is required. 

You may paint from July 29-August 2.

What is a Paint Out? Read this information if Paint Out's are new to you! 

You must have your materials stamped BEFORE you start painting. You can have your materials stamped at Cassens Fine Art from 10 am - 4 pm Tuesday- Friday.  Or at any AIS painting location, workshop and events. 

We have arranged for locations to paint and you can register for each location separately. 

Artists may turn in one painting, maximum size 12 x 16 on Saturday, August 2 for judging.  All work must be for sale.  Cassens Fine Art will process sales and artists receive 60% commission.  Work must be framed.  

Questions?  Contact AIS Executive Director, Liz Ahrens  231-881-7685 aisdirector1@gmail.com

Instructor and Awards Judge Ned Mueller AISM

This workshop is Tuesday, July 29. If you would like to enroll in the painting session with Ned on Friday, August 1, your $150 fee will cover both days.  We will register you for the Friday session, do NOT enroll yourself.  If you want to JUST enroll in Friday session, click here. 

"Welcome to my two day workshop! I have been drawing and painting for over 75 years and teaching for over 60 years and I think that I have some very valuable information and experience to share."

In the morning we will be inside and I will give a 45 minute talk and show examples of the process that I generally use to develop a studio work...value and color studies, landscapes and figure work...often using multiple photos to create my paintings, also samples of portrait drawings and paintings.

I will then show a PowerPoint presentation of the process that I have my students do to help them get the concept of thinking more like an Artist and what they can do to improve their work. I will show show some of my work and what my thinking was behind most of my creations...along with samples of other Artists work that I admire.

We will break for a bout a 45 minute lunch and then carpool to a yet to be determined area to do some plein air painting for those who are up for it. Some of you might just want to take photos or just simply work on something else you have in mind, draw or paint other artists.

On Friday, August 1, we will paint together plein air. 

We will have a limit of 12 students in the workshop, so should have a lot of time for critiques and conversations. I may just do a small color study, so you can see how I start.. I think the most important part of a painting outside. I will be scouting out a location a few days before the workshop and will be looking for some location that will inspire you with its interest and variety of possibilities!

I will have have some value and color studies, portrait drawings and studio works for sale. We give students a 25% discount.

Water or Gamsol. 

Paper towels and trash bag. 

Plein Air easel a must.  Sunscreen and a hat. 

Download Ned's Supply List

If AIS cancels, students are given a full refund.  AIS will offer a partial refund of 80% of fee if students need to cancel up to July 10, after July 11, no refunds. 

Join us as we paint on a 10,000 acre private ranch. Sweeping vistas, working cattle and horses and surrounded by mountains. It will be a glorious day! 

Very rustic and no bathrooms available. Bring your own lunch/refreshments. We will be allowed to paint until 3 pm. Address will be sent to all registered members. 

PAINT OUT CHECK IN ONLY FROM 8:00 am to 9:30 am.  If you already checked in and had your materials stamped, you do not need to check in again. 

You must bring your own supplies and easel.

AIS Welcome Party for Members!

Mingle with your AIS artist friends and make some new friends.

Location: Teller Wildlife Refuge

As part of our AIS Member benefits we invite you to enjoy light bites and wine, beer and beverages courtesy of American Art Collector magazine. 

Open to all AIS members and one guest per member. 

You MUST register if you plan to attend so we can get an accurate catering count.

Join us as we paint on location at Daly Mansion.  The "Victorian Ladies" will be our models for the morning.

PAINT OUT CHECK IN ONLY FROM 8:00 am to 9:30 am.  If you already checked in and had your materials stamped, you do not need to check in again. 

You must bring your own supplies and easel.

Join us for the Awards Presentation for our 26th Annual AIS National Exhibition at the Bitterroot Inn and Conference Center in Hamilton, Montana.  This event is open to the public. 

Refreshments and light bites. 

Awards Judge, Ned Mueller AISM, will make brief remarks and together with AIS Chairman Debra Joy Groesser will present awards. Sponsors will also be presenting awards.  Over $105,000 in awards and prizes will be presented. 

The winning artwork will be displayed in a video presentation. The following evening, August 1, we will celebrate at Cassens Fine Art with an opening party! 

Registration for AIS members and guests is suggested. 

Instructor Ned Mueller AISM

Location: Hamilton, Montana

Meet at 8:45 am 

Enjoy a half day painting session with Awards Judge Ned Mueller. If you enroll in Ned's Workshop on Tuesday, you can attend this session for free!

If you enroll in just this session, the fee is $75. 

No required supply list. Bring your own supplies and easel.

If AIS cancels, students are given a full refund.  AIS will offer a partial refund of 80% of fee if students need to cancel up to July 10. After July 10, no refunds. 

The 26th Annual National Juried Exhibition will open on Friday, August 1 at Cassens Fine Art Gallery in Hamilton, Montana. 

Enjoy a celebratory reception with remarks from Awards Judge Ned Mueller AISM and Debra Joy Groesser AIS Board Chairman.

The ribbons will already be on the winning artwork as awards announced on Thursday at the Awards Presentation. 

You must pre-register to participate to allow for ample time for each critique. 

A team of AIS Signature Members will be available to critique your artwork.

You may bring ONE painting if you would like, or photos of paintings. Critiques will last 15 to 20 minutes each depending on how many sign up. 

LOCATION:  Bitterroot Inn and Conference Center

The Business of Art presentation with AIS Member Scott Jones. 

Scott Jones describes himself as passionate “art fanatic”, having purchased his first painting at the age of fifteen, and never really stopping.  Scott painted watercolors as a teenager with a good friend’s father – Richard Van Wagoner – who later become the Head of the Art Department at Weber State.  Scott won an award at the State High School Art Competition at the Springville Art Museum, and his watercolor painting of Delicate Arch was used by the ABC News Affiliate (Channel 4) in Salt Lake City as their 6 pm and 10 pm News Logo for several months. 

Scott opted to study Business at Weber State and then received his Master of Science in Management from Purdue University.  The former President of Saddleman, Inc. – an automotive accessories company based in Logan, UT, with 650+ employees and manufacturing plants in six states, Mexico, China, and Indonesia – Scott traveled extensively and tied many of his business trips to gallery shows and museum exhibitions.  

He was the General Manager of Legacy Gallery in Scottsdale, Jackson and Bozeman for 10+ years.  He later became the Associate Publisher of Fine Art Connoisseur and PleinAir Magazines. Followed by a year with Gallery Wild in Jackson as their Director of Sales.  He and DeAnn now reside in Washington State near their daughters and grandchildren.  He recently retired after several years as a sales consultant for Cole Gallery, but his love of art and admiration for artists is as strong as ever.  He still can’t pass by an open gallery without taking a look.

AIS will present a  two hour painting demonstration with highly acclaimed AIS Master and Awards Judge, Ned Mueller.

Ned will share his creative process with insights to composition when painting a live model.  At Bitterroot Inn and Conference Center

Open to the public. 

Join us on Saturday, August 2 as we present awards for Wet Wall Exhibition as the last event for the opening week of the 26th Annual National Juried Exhibition! This event is open to the public.  

An exhibition and sale of artwork created during the week by AIS members in the Bitterroot Valley.  Artwork will be on display from 12 pm to 6:30 pm.

Join us for a final gathering to celebrate together with your fellow AIS members and their guests! Sponsored by Southwest Art Magazine.  

Held at Cassens Fine Art, Hamilton Montana.