Visit the Event
Watch 30 juried artists paint the town and the county
Residents and visitors can watch artists at their easels as they paint throughout the county. Artists will paint en plein air—outside, using natural light. Look for them especially in the early morning and late afternoon when colors are vibrant and shadows are strong.
The Grand Exhibition. Awards Judge Ron Donoughe will award 6 prizes for a total of $12,500 during the ticketed Collectors Preview Party on Friday evening, June 21st. Attendees will be the first to meet the artists, view and purchase paintings completed during the week, and vote for their favorite painter to receive Collectors Choice Award.
Exhibit-goers to Saturday's Public Exhibit will meet the artists, view and purchase paintings, and can cast votes for the Peoples Choice Award.
Event Schedule
- Tuesday morning, June 18. Artists arrive in Frederick and register at The Frederick Visitor Center where they have canvases and papers stamped and meet their host families. Painting begins.
- Wednesday-Friday, June 18-21. Artists paint throughout Frederick County.
- Friday, June 21, 2:00 pm. Artists submit two paintings for competition plus up to two additional noncompetition works at the exhibit site, The Talley Rec Center (Old Armory), Frederick.
Friday evening, 7:00 to 9:30 pm. Collectors Preview Party, a ticketed event, The Talley Rec Center (Old Armory), Frederick. Be among the first to view and purchase competition paintings and talk with the artists who created them. Doors open at 7 pm for wine, appetizers, and the first opportunity to visit the gallery. Awards Judge Ron Donoughe will announce the top 6 prize winners.
- Saturday, June 22. Lots of activities!
Quick Draw Contest and Sale. East Patrick, North Market, and North East Streets in Downtown Frederick. Juried artists join other professional and amateur plein-air artists, age 16 and older, in a paint-against-the-clock contest. $1,500 in prizes awarded and winning paintings exhibited at the Saturday afternoon Public Exhibit. Non-juried artist registration fee is $15. This is your opportunity to buy the painting of your choice right off the easel!
- 8:00 am. Artists check in.
9:30-11:30 am. Contest period. Audible signals mark start and stop times. At 11:30, artists transport completed work to Talley Rec Center.
Noon. Judging begins and the sidewalk art market opens outside the Talley Rec Center. Winners announced at approximately 12:30 pm. Sales and viewing of Quick Draw artwork continue until 1:00 pm., when winning paintings move inside to be displayed with the Public Exhibit until 6 p.m.