Artists Paint the Desert in Real Time at Plein Air Festival

Artists lined El Paseo in Palm Desert Wednesday, painting the desert in real time as part of the California Desert Plein Air Festival. The annual event brings painters from across the country to capture the region's landscapes outdoors—a tradition that dates back more than a century.

The festival runs January 8 through February 1, with artists setting up at locations including El Paseo, Ironwood Park, and the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. If you spot someone working at an easel around town, that's likely why.

Artists work in a range of styles, from oils to pastels, each interpreting the desert through their own lens. Starting January 16, the finished artwork goes on public display at the Artists Center at the Galen, with free admission and artist demonstrations running through the end of the festival.

For passersby along El Paseo, watching the work unfold in person is part of the draw—a chance to see art made, not just displayed.

More information is available at californiadesertpleinair.com.