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For most of the last 16 years, Plein Air Easton has been the largest and most prestigious outdoor painting competition in the nation. Annually, artists from across the globe hope to become one of the 58 juried artists who get to compete for prizes and art sales in the heat of July on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. We were all systems go on the 2020 Plein Air Easton Festival when the world was brought to a screeching halt this March with the spread of deadly COVID-19. By having all of their revenue streams closed, canceled, or postponed until 2021, many artists have been devastated.  

Plein Air Easton, the largest and most prestigious outdoor painting competition in the United States, is preparing for its 16th year this July. Each year, PAE chooses a single person to evaluate nearly 1,000 images submitted for consideration from plein air painters around the world and then, from those images, select the 58 artists who will compete in Easton in July. This person becomes the single judge for the event in the following year.

Oxford, MD – Plein Air Easton marks its fifteenth year this July with fifty-eight juried participants from around the world. On Sunday, July 14th PAE competition artists will descend on Oxford for its fourth annual Paint Oxford Day.  For the occasion, Oxford businesses will offer specials throughout the day, culminating with live music, a free reception, exhibition and sale at the Oxford Community Center from 5 to 6:30 pm. A $1,000 Artists’ Choice award will be awarded, as will a brand-new cash prize sponsored by Attraction Magazine: the WaterWays Award.