The competition artists for the 9th Annual Plein Air–Easton! Competition & Arts Festival have been announced. During this weeklong mega artfest, scores of painters descend on Easton and Talbot County, bringing with them an up-close-and-personal look at the excitement and spontaneity that surrounds art created en plein air (French for “in the open air”). The event has consistently boasted brisk art sales and Plein Air–Easton! continues to be the hottest art sale of the year in the Mid-Atlantic region and well beyond.

More than 240 artists applied from across the U.S. and around the world. The following 58 artists have been selected to compete in the 9th Annual Plein Air–Easton! competition to be held July 15-21, 2013.

http://new.pleinaireaston.com.previewdns.com/artists

Stephanie Amato, Basking Ridge NJ

Natalia Andreeva, Tallahassee FL

Paul Bachem, Locust Valley NY

Garin Baker, New Windsor NY

Robert J Barber, Bethlehem PA (2007 Winner)

Cindy Baron, AWS, East Greenwich RI

D. Eleinne Basa, Jackson NJ

Jill Basham, Trappe MD

Tim Bell, Odenton MD (2006 Winner)

Zufar Bikbov, Oakville CT

Carole Böggemann-Peirson, Townsend VA

Eric Bowman, Tigard OR

Brenda Boylan, Beaverton OR

Thomas Bradshaw, Smithville VA

John Michael Carter, Louisville KY

Hiu Lai Chong, Rockville MD (2012 Winner)

Sandra Corpora, Bethlehem PA

David R Csont, Pittsburgh PA

Katie Dobson Cundiff, Bradenton FL

Woody Cyrus, Culpeper VA

Ken DeWaard, Viroqua WI

Charles Dickinson, St Augustine FL

Ron Donoughe, Pittsburgh PA

Anastasia Dukhanina, St Petersburg, Russia

Peter J. Emerson, Lewisberry PA

Pam Folsom, Cincinatti OH

Stephen J. Griffin, Easton MD

Palden Hamilton, Baltimore MD

Neal Hughes, Moorestown NJ

Charlie Hunter, Bellows Falls VT

Tim Kelly, Baltimore MD

Thomas Jefferson Kitts, Portland OR

Michael Kotarba, Baltimore MD

Mark Lague, Point Claire, Quebec

Greg LaRock, Newport Beach CA (2008 Winner)

Kirk Larsen, Hicksville NY

Patrick J. Lee, Pittsburgh PA

Leonard Mizerek, Westport CT

Crystal Moll, Baltimore MD

Larry Moore, Winter Park FL

Ned Mueller, Renton WA (2010 Winner)

Elise N. Phillips, Elverson PA

Sara Linda Poly, Easton MD

Camille Przewodek, Petaluma CA (2011 Winner)

Thom C Robinson, OPA, Indianapolis IN

John Brandon Sills, Phoenix MD

Robert Simone, St. Petersburg FL

Chad Smith, New Hartford NY

Richard R Sneary, Kansas City MO

Hodges Soileau, OPA, Venice FL

Jason Tako, Dover PA

Nancy Tankersley, Easton MD

Timothy Tien, Alhambra CA

Shannon Troxler, Wilson WY

Bob Upton, St. Paul MN

Kim VanDerHoek, Orange CA

Kathie Wheeler, Viroqua WI

Stewart Burgess White, Baltimore MD (Winner 2009)

Plein Air–Easton! is judged by some of the most knowledgeable and informed experts in the world of representational art. This year’s entry jurist, who selected which artists will contend in the National Competition, was Peter Trippi. Mr. Trippi is editor of Fine Art Connoisseur, a bimonthly magazine that serves collectors of historical and contemporary representational painting, sculpture, drawings, and prints. He is also president of Projects in 19th-Century Art, Inc., the firm he established to pursue a range of research, writing, and curating opportunities.

Donald Demers from Eliot, Maine, returns in July 2013 as awards judge, after serving as the entry jurist in 2012. The awards judge selects the winning paintings in the Plein Air–Easton! National Competition (announced at the Preview Party on Friday, July 19, 2013) and in the Quick Draw Competition (held Saturday, July 20, 2013). Mr. Demers is one of the finest marine and landscape painters in America. The exemplary level of his paintings has placed them in some of the most prestigious public and private collections in the country. Demers is a highly sought-after instructor; his teaching has taken him around the United States and Europe. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Marine Artists, an elected member of the Guild of Boston Artists, a Signature Member of the Plein Air Painters of America, an elected member of the Salmagundi Club, and an elected member of the California Art Club.

Plein Air–Easton! is the work of the Avalon Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for residents of the Eastern Shore by providing diversified arts and educational programs. The Academy Art Museum is the accredited museum venue for the competition exhibit. The event is supported by the Talbot County Arts Council, along with corporate and individual donors. Donations from Friends of Plein Air–Easton! support the event while promoting conservation and tourism through the arts and a distinct sense of place.  Strong community support and sponsorships have helped make Plein Air–Easton! one of Easton's largest events and America’s premier plein air festival. For more information, visit  ww.pleinaireaston.com, email info@pleinaireaston.com or call the Plein Air–Easton! hotline at 410.822.7297.