This July, artists from the Plein Air–Easton! National Competition (to be held July 14-22) will be doing more of what they do best: creating beautiful artwork of local landscapes during public and private paint-outs. The resulting paintings will be available for sale at the Academy Art Museum during Plein Air–Easton! as replacement paintings in the Competition Exhibit at the Academy Art Museum, July 20-22.
On Thursday, July 12, Plein Air–Easton! competition artists will participate in a “Paint for Your Supper” pre-competition event at the River House at Easton Club. The Easton Club complex is situated on 182 acres with more than 2,000 feet of waterfront at the headwaters of the Tred Avon River. The bounty of Eastern Shore farms and the natural beauty and diversity of the five rivers of Talbot County that flow into the Chesapeake Bay are reflected in the menu at the River House Restaurant with Executive Chef Michael Rork’s culinary creations.
There will be a paint-out from 3-7pm, followed by an art exhibit from 7-9pm. Plein Air–Easton! competition artists who produce a painting on the property that day will be treated to dinner sponsored by the River House.
The public is invited to come watch paintings being created and purchase dinner while enjoying the company of these renowned artists. This is the perfect way to get a jump on the week.
Plein Air–Easton! officially begins with the brand new Friends of Plein Air–Easton! Opening Dinner & Paint-Out. This event is presented as an exclusive benefit to members of Friends of Plein Air–Easton!. The Opening Dinner & Paint-Out takes place Saturday, July 14 (Bastille Day) on the Normandie estate located on the Tred Avon River. The property boasts beautiful water views, striking architecture, lovely gardens, and an impressive world-class classic car collection.
The Opening Dinner & Paint Out will offer guests the opportunity to meet this year’s 58 competitors—some of the most renowned artists in the world of plein air painting—as they arrive from across the country, register, and begin a weeklong painting marathon. These artists will be eager to connect or re-connect with our community, make new friends, and gather tips on the best places to paint in the upcoming competition week. Artists will also be invited to paint that evening, allowing guests to become familiar with the artists’ work and get the inside track on whom to watch during the week ahead. Gourmet by the Bay will cater a lavish French dinner, and guests will enjoy live music and the company of artists and fellow art lovers. The Opening Dinner & Paint-Out follows the romantic tradition of Victorian picnic paint-outs on great estates in the company of patrons. The evening will end with an exhibit and sale of the works created that day.
The Friends of Plein Air-Easton! is an active base of supporters and collectors who strive for the sustainability and success of Plein Air–Easton! while promoting conservation and tourism through the arts and a distinct sense of place. This year, the primary benefit for becoming a “friend,” donors will an invitation to attend the first-ever Friends of Plein Air-Easton! Opening Dinner & Paint Out, on Saturday, July 14 at 7pm. For more information on other benefits of becoming a Friend of Plein Air–Easton!, please call 410.822.7297 or email info@pleinaireaston.com.
The 8th Annual Plein Air–Easton! Competition & Arts Festival takes place July 14-22, 2012. Plein Air–Easton! is the work of the Avalon Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide diversified arts and educational programs that improve the quality of life in the Mid-Shore region. The event is one of the most successful plein air events in the nation. During the week, 58 juried artists produce work in Talbot County and submit two competition paintings. More than $20,000 in prizes is awarded and art sales frequently exceed one per minute during the opening Collectors’ Preview Party (July 20). The Academy Art Museum is the accredited museum venue for the competition exhibit. The event is supported by various corporate, media, and community sponsors, including the Talbot County Arts Council, Maryland Public Television, Chesapeake Publishing, and Friends of Plein Air–Easton!
For complete details, visit www.pleinaireaston.com or phone the Plein Air–Easton! hotline at 410.822.7297.
In photo: Thomas Jefferson Kitts from Portland, OR, at work during an estate paint-out.