PACE 2019 Recap

PACE (Plein Air Convention & Expo) offers a one-of-a-kind experience featuring a faculty of some of the world’s top plein air artists (artists who paint outdoors and on location). The convention and expo includes classes, demonstrations, social activities, exhibitors, and on-site painting at the host hotel and surrounding locale.

This year’s event marked the convention’s 8th year and was held in the heart of San Francisco at the Hilton Union Square Hotel and Convention Center. It included field painting trips to Golden Gate Park, Chrissy Field and other famous San Francisco vistas. Participants also traveled further afield into the wine country of Sonoma and Napa.

Royal Talens North America was joined by over fifty sponsors and vendors in the expo hall for four days, April 24-27. We partnered with the Artist & Craftsman San Francisco store for sales and staff support. Their presence was very welcomed, and their team did an excellent job all around.

Activity and sales in the hall were solid and Rembrandt oil as always led the pack with the Year of Rembrandt increasing its visibility.

Cobra Artist Oils have continued to garner more and more market share. Thanks in large part to our ambassador support, the brand and the overall desire for solvent free painting is on the rise with both professional artists and enthusiasts.

We also offered a selection of the new Van Gogh Watercolor pan sets, Rembrandt Pastels and Talens Extra Fine Gouache. We sold a respectable quantity of the Van Gogh sets, and sold out of the Gouache. We also received feedback about carrying acrylics next year, and there was an acrylic event on the demo stage.

Many of our Royal Talens Ambassadors participated as featured faculty at this year’s events. Both Kathleen Dunphy and Charlie Hunter were featured on the Main Stage. Along with their faculty responsibilities, Kathleen, Charlie, Tim Horn, Johanne Mangi, Lori McNee, Scott W. Prior, and Bob Masla joined us in the booth for some very successful and well attended demonstrations. Both Michele Byrne and Scott W. Prior were recognized for their individual achievements. Michele won for the “Best Selling Video of the Year” for her Palette Knife Painting workshop. Scott was a finalist in the PACE Salon Competition for his painting “Market Street Hustle”.

Next year’s event will be held in Denver, Colorado. We are expecting a big turnout in the Rocky Mountain State, and look forward to again sharing the history, culture and quality of our Royal Talens brands.