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21st Annual Plein Air Easton Announces Esteemed Juror Selection

Plein Air Easton Apply for the 2025 competition

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. This year’s juror is Mary Morton, Curator and Head of French Paintings at the National Gallery of Art since 2010. With a distinguished career that includes roles as associate curator of paintings at the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, she brings a wealth of expertise to her current position.

Awards List - 20th Plein Air Easton 2024

Grand Prize: Timothy Dills Memorial Award, $5,000 + Invitation to participate in #PAE2025
Sponsored by Ellen Vatne
Robert Simone, ‘The Shipwright’s Apprentice’

Artists' Choice, $5,000, + Invitation to participate in #PAE2025
Sponsored by Hali & Scott Asplundh
Orville Giguiento, ‘Getting Ship-shape’

2nd Place, $2,000, + Invitation to participate in #PAE2025
Sponsored by the Academy Art Museum
Christine Lashley, ‘Heritage Fields’

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, concluded on Sunday, July 21st. Organized by the Avalon Foundation, this 10-day festival achieved art sales exceeding $500,000 for the second consecutive year.

Plein Air Easton Launches Inaugural Hall of Fame Awards

EASTON, MD — April 15, 2024 — Plein Air Easton, the renowned celebration of outdoor painting, is excited to announce the inauguration of its Hall of Fame Awards. Established in honor of Plein Air Easton's 20th anniversary, the Hall of Fame aims to recognize individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations that have made exceptional contributions to the continued success and growth of Plein Air Easton.

Judging Plein Air Easton 2024

As the competition judge for the 20th Plein Air Easton, Nancy Tankersley holds the pivotal responsibility of selecting award winners from the 2024 competition. With over 30 awards distributed across various events—such as the main competition, Small Painting Sunday, Quick Draw, and Next Generation—Nancy’s discerning eye will play a crucial role. On Sunday, July 21 at 2 pm, she will share her insights during the Judge’s Talk, explaining her choices.

WAF Announces Local COLOR’S 2024 20th ANNIVERSARY ARTISTS

Easton, MD - The Working Artists Forum (WAF) proudly announces their highly anticipated juried artist list for the 20th Anniversary Local Color Art Show & Sale this summer. Held annually under the auspices of Plein Air Easton, this well-regarded event celebrates the vibrant artistic talent of the Delmarva Peninsula and the membership of the Working Artists Forum. Plein Air Easton also celebrates twenty years of their renowned Plein Air Art Competition & Festival this summer.

Plein Air Easton Launches Inaugural Hall of Fame Awards: Nominations Now Open

Plein Air Easton Special Thanks 2023

In addition to continued support from our Avalon Board, the Avalon Staff, Friends of Plein Air, and the community at large, Plein Air Easton would not be possible without the special contributions madeby volunteers, partner organizations, the competition artists, art collectors, local artists and galleries, Easton merchants, host families, and community members who attend the events. We'd like to take this opportunity to help those who helped us pull off a spectacular year:

Plein Air Easton Blows Past $500K in Art Sales

Second Place Winner - Shore Pride by Tim Beall

July 26, 2023

Local Artists - It's Time to Enter Local Color!

The Working Artists Forum (WAF), under the auspices of the annual Plein Air Easton (PAE) Competition and Arts Festival, sponsors a juried and judged art exhibit each year entitled “Local Color”. Local Color features two-dimensional art in various painting mediums. Eligibility to enter includes all artists residing on the Delmarva Peninsula in MD, DE or VA, as well as any member of WAF, with the exception of any artists who have been juried into the Plein Air – Easton Competition.

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT – WHERE and WHEN?

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