Spring has brought more than wildflowers to Southern Utah this week—it's brought artists.

The 5th Annual St. George Plein Air Festival kicked off April 6, bringing 60 to 70 painters from more than 15 states to set up their easels across Washington County's most scenic locations.

From Pioneer Park to downtown St. George, visitors can watch artists at work, capturing the region's iconic red cliffs and desert landscapes in real time.

The weeklong festival runs through April 11, transforming public spaces into open-air studios where the creative process unfolds before spectators' eyes.

"Plein air" painting—French for "open air"—means artists work outdoors on location, painting what they see in natural light rather than from photographs in a studio.

The festival is organized by ART Provides, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting visual arts in Southern Utah.

Artists participating in the festival have traveled from across the country to paint Southern Utah's distinctive scenery, with its brilliant spring light washing over ancient stone formations and sweeping desert vistas.

Spectators are welcome to approach artists during painting sessions, making it a unique opportunity to witness artwork being created from blank canvas to finished piece.

The festival concludes April 11 with a public exhibition where completed works will be on display and available for purchase.

For residents and visitors alike, the festival offers a chance to see familiar landscapes through an artist's eyes and appreciate the natural beauty that makes Southern Utah a destination for painters year after year.