Plein Air Easton is the largest and most prestigious juried plein air painting competition in the United States. The annual competition is held in Easton, MD each July. Artists from all over the United States and beyond apply and fifty-eight artists will be juried into the competition by a unique juror each year.  Once selected, competing artists will travel to Talbot County to produce art from life (as opposed to in the studio).

Many of the world's most accomplished artists have Easton at the top of their wish list of competitions and we will continue to set the bar for excellence in the coming year.

Plein Air Easton is just one of many programs operated by the Avalon Foundation. Visit avalonfoundation.org for details on our other important work.

FEATURED UPCOMING EVENTS

For a full list of our upcoming events, visit our events calendar.

Fri 7/11

Kick-off Block Party

FREE EVENT

Join us in welcoming the 58 artists who will be spending the week painting all over Talbot County and be sure to view the exhibits of their work at...

Sun 7/13

Paint Oxford

FREE EVENT

An exhibit and sale of works produced in Oxford during this special competition artists paint out.
Location: 200 Oxford Road, Oxford, MD...

Mon 7/14

Paint Tilghman

FREE EVENT

Join us for the exhibit and sale of works produced during this special competition artists paint out....

Fri 7/18

Collectors' Preview Party

Join Us for the Final Weekend Extravaganza at Plein Air Easton!...

Sat 7/19

Quick Draw

FREE EVENT

Watch as nearly 200 artists complete a painting in 2 hours in downtown Easton....

Sun 7/20

Small Painting Sunday

FREE EVENT

Free and Open to the Public.
Location: PAE Headquarters @ 40 South Harrison Street, Easton(website, map)
Phone:
410-822-7297...

Sun 7/20

Judge's Talk

FREE EVENT

Join our 2025 competition judge, Peter Trippi as he discusses his award selections for Plein Air Easton 2025...

"

"One of the things about Easton that anyone who knows anything about the community appreciates is how vibrant the cultural life is in this town and how so many people who are part of Easton really appreciate and value its commitment to the arts, and at the center of all of that is Plein Air Easton."

"
Dan Weiss, President of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

FEATURED NEWS STORIES

See our news feed for a full list of our articles.

Welcome to Plein Air Easton 2025

Plein Air Easton is the largest and most prestigious juried plein air painting competition in the United States. The annual competition is held in Easton, Maryland, each July.

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Celebrating Excellence: Nominations Open for Hall of Fame Awards

Plein Air Easton, the nation’s premier outdoor painting festival, is now accepting nominations for its Hall of Fame Awards.

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21st Annual Plein Air Easton Announces Esteemed Juror Selection

Easton, MD – Plein Air Easton (PAE) is thrilled to announce the juror selection for the 21st PAE festival and outdoor art competition, July 11-20, 2025.

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Awards List - 20th Plein Air Easton 2024

Grand Prize: Timothy Dills Memorial Award, $5,000 + Invitation to participate in #PAE2025Sponsored by Ellen VatneRobert Simone, ‘The Shipwright’s Apprentice’

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Plein Air Easton’s 20th Year Celebration Recap

Easton, Maryland – July 22, 2024 – The 20th Annual Plein Air Easton (PAE) Art Festival and Competition, known as the largest and most prestigious outdoor painting competition in the United States,

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CORPORATE SPONSORS

SPECIAL THANKS

FRIENDS OF PLEIN AIR

VISIONARY

Hali & Scott Asplundh
Bill Nielsen
Abigail Rosenfeld
Town of Easton
Ellen Vatne
Julie & Joe Warin
Bruce Wiltsie & Bill Davenport

BENEFACTOR

Kelly & Brent Asplundh
Lisa & Steven Asplundh
Mary & Richard Emrich
Maxine Millar
Cynthia Rickman & Joel Texter
Terry & Bill Witowsky

PATRON

Robyn & Bill Collins
Sharon & Christopher Haines
Elizabeth Hormel
Ellen & Carl MacCartee
Rita & Robert Reaves
Cyndi Duvall Simmons
Sharon & Richard Struthers
Beverly & Richard Tilghman

ART LOVER

Virginia & Michael Borner
James Carder & Bruce Thomas
Ellie & Brian Christiansen
Jeff Gwilliam & Susan Able
Heather Muir Johnson
Rebecca Jones & Jeff Fuge
Rebecca Jones
Lyn & Andrew McCormick
Helen Milby
Sarah Milby
Helen & Joe Milby
Sarah & Kate Milby
Julie & Richard Smith

FRIEND

Catherine & Tom Alspach
Jane & Bill Anderson
Sue & Joe Bredekamp
Steve & Julie Burleson
Cherie Carroll
Julie Carter & Alfred Mercier
Kimberly & Donald Casson
Naomi Clark-Turner
The Cohen Family
Philip Davis
D'Ann Rose & Preston Doerflinger
Andrea Fekkes Dynes
Nancy & Herman Espenhorst
Paula & Chris Fenger
Peggy Feuerstein
Olivia & Haroldo Fleischfresser
Mike Hash & Buck Waller
Nancy & Joe Hollingsworth
Betty & Eddy Huang
Jan & Rick Hynson
Gugy Irving
Mary & Hall Kellogg
Barbara & Robert Landau
Debbie & Tom Lawrence
Annette & Kevin Long
Mary Ellen Mabe
Beverley Martin
Lisa & Charles Martin
Diane & Peter Mayer
Nancy & Greg Minahan
Leslie & Bill Morrison
Gordon O'Brien & Jill DeTemple
The Ravenal Foundation
Nancy & Greg Ridgway
Joyce & Ben Schlesinger
Kimberly & Doug Selby
Carol & Alan Sleeper
Lusette & Ed Smith
Dana & Jim Vlk
Sharon Waters
Judy & Larry Weaver
Laura Weiss

BECOME A FRIEND OF PLEIN AIR

The Friends of Plein Air Easton are a group of active supporters who ensure that Plein Air Easton exists and thrives into the future. Plein Air Easton is not a single event or moment but a ten-day series of meaningful experiences where opportunities to engage, learn, and explore the Eastern Shore's stunning geography, art, and culture abound.

JOIN TODAY