
Art Competitions
Buda Arts Festival
October 13 - 18


Plein Air Competition
Information & Registration
Artists have 4 days to paint en plein air anywhere outdoors in the 78610 zip code for a chance to win prizes totaling $1300!
Please DOWNLOAD the PDF for further details.


Artist Registration Fees And Discounts
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Early Bird Plein Air Artist Registration: $40
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DEADLINE: August 1, 2025 Includes 50% off Quick Draw Entry Coupon (check your email)
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Standard Plein Air Artist Registration: $60
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DEADLINE: September 30, 2025 Includes 50% off Quick Draw Entry
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Student Plein Air Artist Registration*: $25
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DEADLINE: September 30, 2025 *A valid student ID must be presented upon arrival for festival check-in.
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Registration Includes:
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Entry of up to two (2) paintings into the awards competition and exhibition
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Artwork will be on display and for sale during the:
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First Look Fête (10/18)
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Awards Celebration and Public Art Sale (10/18)
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Buda Plein Air Competition Exhibit (10/18-11/22)
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Artists’ Welcome Reception w/ food and drinks (10/13)
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Invitation to the Artists’ Happy Hours at Nate’s (10/15) & Meridian (10/16)
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Free entry (+1) into the First Look Fête w/ food and drinks (10/18)
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Awards Presentation at the Buda Welcome Center (10/18)
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Lunch & Learn Workshops
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Artists Requirements & Festival Dates: October 13–18, 2025
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This festival is open to artists of all skill levels from beginner to professional of all mediums except photography.
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Artwork will be created outside in the spirit of "plein air"
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Tuesday Oct. 14 through Friday Oct. 17 are optional paint days.
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All artwork must be turned in, framed, and ready to hang on Friday no later than 6pm.
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See PDF of additional Rules & Guidelines found on Buda Arts Festival web page
Plein Air Painting Locations:
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Select outdoor locations in the 78610 zip code
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See MAP
Artist Check-In & Canvas Stamping:
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Begins at Inspired Minds Art Center on Monday, Oct 13th at 5:00pm at the Welcome Reception and continues daily, 9am-5pm, through Oct 17.
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All canvases must be stamped before use at IMAC.
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See PDF of additional Rules & Guidelines found on Buda Arts Festival web page
Plein Air Competition Submissions: DUE Friday, Oct 17
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Deadline: Turn in artwork between 1pm-5pm
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Location: Buda Welcome Center
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Maximum of 2 artworks may be submitted
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2D artwork must be framed and ready to hang
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Late artwork and 2D artwork that is not framed (canvas edges must be finished if not framed), stamped, and ready to hang will not be accepted.
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See PDF of additional Rules & Guidelines found on Buda Arts Festival web page
2025 Buda Plein Air Festival Judging & Awards
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$700 Best in Show
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$400 Second Place
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$200 Third Place
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Honorable Mentions
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All artwork will be guaranteed inclusion in the 2025 Buda Plein Air Festival exhibition
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See PDF of additional Rules & Guidelines found on Buda Arts Festival web page
Registration Confirmation:
You will receive an email after completing festival registration that includes:
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A transaction receipt showing the amount paid.
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Your discount code needed to save $15 off Quick Draw registration.
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If you do not receive it, check your spam or junk folders for an email from susan@inspiredminds.art, sinead@inspiredminds.art, or info@inspiredminds.art
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Quick Draw Competition
Information & Registration
Artists have 2 hours to paint en plein air in Historic Downtown Buda, TX and a chance to win awards totaling $500!
Please DOWNLOAD the PDF for further details.


Artists have 2 hours to paint en plein air in Historic Downtown Buda, TX. Win awards totaling $600!
Artist Registration Fees And Discounts
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$25 Standard Registration
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$10 w/ Plein Air Competition Registration
Artists Requirements & Festival Dates:
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Saturday, October 18, 2025
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9:30am-11:30am
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This competition is open to artists of all skill levels from beginner to professional of all mediums except photography.
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Artwork will be created outside in the spirit of "plein air"
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See PDF of additional Rules & Guidelines.
Plein Air Painting Locations:
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Downtown Buda, TX
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Select outdoor locations locations from Stagecoach House to Jackson Tyler Morris Memorial Skate Park
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See MAP
Artist Check-In & Canvas Stamping:
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Buda Welcome Center
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Saturday, October 18
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8:00am-9:30am
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All canvases must be stamped before use
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See PDF of additional Rules & Guidelines.
Quick Draw Competition Submissions:
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Turn in framed artwork no later than 12:00pm on Saturday, Oct. 18
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Location: Buda Welcome Center
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Maximum of 1 artwork may be submitted
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2D artwork must be framed
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Late artwork and 2D artwork that is not framed, stamped, and ready to hang will not be accepted.
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Exhibiting artists must complete the following forms upon submission in order for artwork to be exhibited and sold:
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See PDF of additional Rules & Guidelines.
2025 Quick Draw Judging & Awards Ceremony
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Judging at 12:00-12:30pm
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1st Place: $300, 2nd Place: $200, 3rd Place: $100
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Awards will be presented at the 3pm Awards Ceremony in the Buda Welcome Center
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Artwork will be displayed and for sale from 1pm-5pm at the Buda Welcome Center
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See PDF for Rules & Guidelines.
Registration Confirmation
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You will receive a confirmation email after completing festival registration.
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If you do not receive it, check your spam or junk folders for an email from susan@inspiredminds.art, sinead@inspiredminds.art, or info@inspiredminds.art
Festival Fine Art Show Competition
Information & Submission
Open to artists of all mediums! Display and sell your artwork in the Festival Art Show located in the Inspired Minds Gallery. Win the Judge's Choice Award and the People's Choice Award!
Please DOWNLOAD the PDF for further details.


This is a juried exhibit open to artists of all mediums for artwork created prior to the Buda Art Festival. Artists must submit a portfolio of 3 works of art in any medium to be juried. A link to upload images will be provided in the follow-up Registration Email. If selected, artists may display up to two works of art for the Festival Art Show. Artists will be notified of acceptance within 5 days.
Artist Registration Fees And Discounts
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$40 Early Bird Registration - DEADLINE Aug 1
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$60 Standard Registration - DEADLINE Sept. 30
Rules and Guidelines:
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Register by filling out the online form.
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See PDF for Rules & Guidelines
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Artists will be notified of acceptance within 5 days from submission date.
Important Dates:
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Friday, September 30: Deadline to Register
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October 6 & 7: Artwork Drop-Off (10am-6pm)
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Monday, October 13: Exhibit is OPEN
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See PDF for Rules & Guidelines
Festival Art Show Time & Location:
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Inspired Minds Gallery
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121 N. Main Street, Buda, TX
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9:30am - 5:00pm
2025 Festival Art Show Awards:
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Judge's Choice Gift Basket
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People's Choice Gift Basket
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Saturday, October 18
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5:00pm
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Inspired Minds Gallery
Registration Confirmation
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You will receive a confirmation email after completing registration.
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If you do not receive it, check your spam or junk folders for an email from susan@inspiredminds.art, sinead@inspiredminds.art, or info@inspiredminds.art

Jeff
Markowsky
2025 Buda Plein Air Competition Judge
Jeff Markowsky was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada. When he wasn’t playing hockey as a child, he was drawing, painting or sculpting figures with leftover clay found in his mother’s pottery studio. His formal education as a painter began in graduate school with Gregory Crane and then with Frank Mason at the Art Students League in New York City.
In 2022 Markowsky, “The Plein Air Nomad” stepped away from full time academia to travel across North America painting, living a nomadic life. He currently teaches 6 months out of the year at DOJO Atelier in Austin Texas and travels, painting en plein air the other 6 months. He also Illustrates and serves as an Ambassador for the outdoor recreational clothing company American Backcountry.
Markowsky was honored to win the Museum Purchase Award at 2022 Plein Air Texas in San Angelo Texas. In the same year he was awarded Best of Show, 2nd Place and Artist’s Choice at Central City Plein Air in Colorado. He won the Grand Prize at the 3rd Annual Saint Augustine Plein Air Festival in 2019. He was the 2018 Grand Prize winner of the Lighthouse Art Center 5th Annual Plein Air Festival in Tequesta Florida and returned in 2019 as judge.
He is a member of both The American Impressionist Society and The Oil Painters of America. He was juried in to the 2023 AIS National and Small Works Exhibitions and was juried in to the 2023 OPA Eastern Regional Exhibition in Beverly McNeil Gallery in Birmingham, Alabama. His work is rooted in traditional representational art with an equal love and appreciation for both the human form and the landscape.

Micah Grau
2025 Buda Quick Draw Competition Judge
While Micah claims no talent of his own, he enjoys art and considers himself capable of recognizing good art from really good art. He appreciates artistic expression through many mediums and the emotional connections between artists and artwork. Micah's day job is to serve as the City Manager for the City of Buda, which he has done since 2022. He, along with his partner Mallory and kids, are big supporters of the Inspired Minds Art Center for the role they play in connecting the community through art and community events, creating a place for artists of all ages to grow and showcase their talents, and for building a thriving art culture in Buda.

Renee Barnes
2024 Festival Fine Art Show Judge
Renee Barnes is a multi-talented artist who has been teaching art for the past five years at Inspired Minds Art Center, inspiring students of all ages to explore their creativity. Renee specializes in acrylic and watercolor painting, drawing, and a variety of subject matter that spans murals for commercial businesses, children’s book illustrations, interior design, abstract works, and detailed flora and fauna paintings, as well as landscapes.
Renee’s artistic journey began in childhood, where she often sat and drew fairies and imaginary friends, sparking her lifelong passion for art. Her career in interior design during the 1990s was dedicated to creating enchanting spaces in the Family Entertainment Industry, where learning and play came together in murals and immersive environments for children.
After retiring from interior design, Renee fully embraced her love for art, creating whimsical characters like Katrinka Sweetblossom and her forest pals, who now populate both her charming children’s books and wall art. Her mission is to nurture children’s imagination through her captivating designs and storytelling, while also contributing to the art world with her versatile talents across mediums and styles.