Located along the scenic Chesapeake Bay and her tributaries, Talbot County (MD) garners more miles of coastline than does any other county in the United States. Marshes, beaches, working waterfronts, and unforgettable historic small towns are part and parcel of this beautiful landscape, which has been the epicenter of the modern plein air movement for the last 15 years.  

Plein Air Easton, an outdoor painting festival and art competition, has grown to be the largest and most prestigious event of its kind.  Plein air painters from all over the world annually vie for just 58 juried slots to compete for tens of thousands of dollars in prizes and hundreds of thousands of dollars in art sales.  Winning in Easton is a career-changing event for artists, who immediately see increased gallery and event invitations across the United States, as well as heightened interest from a larger group of collectors.  The intense competition to stand out among the nation’s top painters has also been the catalyst for many trends that have shaped and refined the movement elsewhere.

Open application to the juried competition is welcomed, thus Plein Air Easton has become the place to see the best of the best, renowned painters and emerging artists, alike. Daniel Weiss, President, and CEO of The Metropolitan Museum of Art juried this year’s class of participants, which showcases many highly regarded plein air artists as well as sixteen new painters to the event this year. 

The competing artists will arrive in Easton on or before July 12 with stacks of blank canvases in hand, each awaiting the official PAE stamp. Their week to follow finds them capturing the beauty of the landscape as they work both on their own and at events hosted by the festival.  As happens each year, Talbot County comes alive with artists working in the field and with art exhibits celebrating some of the most accomplished plein air painters of our time. While the pros are striving to produce show-stoppers, numerous workshops and art demonstrations ignite the love of art among seasoned collectors and nurture skills among budding artists. Plein Air Easton is an immersive experience: art collectors and artists spend meaningful time together at lavish parties while chatting across easels as works progress.

The area hosts a thriving gallery scene, and many events target those eager to pick up paintbrushes, themselves. For a complete list of events, ticket purchases, background on the competing artists and general information about the festival visit www.pleinaireaston.com.  While many of the ticketed events sell out quickly, much of the festival is free and open to the public. 

Events not to be missed include:

July 13, Meet the Artists Dinner: Private Property, 7pm-9pm The Meet the Artists Dinner is a lavish summer party held at a different and exclusive private estate every year. Patrons can roam the property, watch artists paint, enjoy a delicious meal under the stars and purchase the paintings produced in their midst.  

July 15 – 18, Coffee and Conversation: Avalon Theatre, 10am-12pm World-renowned artists will be on hand to discuss their processes, tips and tricks as they relate to their particular styles of plein air painting. Catch them on location the day prior and then sit in on the conversation the following day.

July 18, A representative from the Metropolitan Museum of Art: Avalon Theatre, 7pm Learn what it’s like to get an insider’s perspective into the largest art museum in the nation and the third most visited in the world. Presented by Troika Gallery.

July 19, Master Jove Wang: Avalon Theatre, 9am-12pm Watch a masterpiece being created before your eyes as Wang captures the essence of his live model in this engaging demo. Presented by Studio B Gallery.

July 19, Collectors’ Preview Party: Academy Art Museum, 7pm-9pm After six days of intense painting en plein air, competitors select their two best pieces to be judged in Plein Air Easton’s premier event. This is the opportunity to have first pick of the hundreds of paintings produced at the 2019 event. The pinnacle of the evening comes at 7:45, when Awards Judge, Dr. David Levy (formerly both CEO of the Parson School of Design and Director of the Corcoran Gallery of Art), announces the winners. Winning paintings will remain on display through the weekend, but art sales are brisk this evening as a painting is sold every 45 seconds for 90 minutes.  The event is lively and fun; there is truly nothing like it anywhere else.  The $250 ticket applies directly to painting purchases made all weekend. 

July 20, Raoul Middleman, 7pm Join Raoul as he discusses his prolific art career spanning over 50 years and over 15,000 paintings. Highlights from the not-yet released documentary film “Middleman” will also be featured. Presented by Troika Gallery.

July 20-21, Ongoing Exhibit and Sale: Academy Art Museum & Armory  Enjoy hundreds of paintings created during Plein Air Easton, all available for sale.  

July 20, Quick Draw: Harrison Street   Painting 10am-12pm, Exhibition and Sale 12pm-2pm  With more than 200 artists painting within just a few blocks, the energy behind the nation’s largest Quick Draw is intoxicating. Remember - everything about the Quick Draw is quick: once the exhibit ends, the paintings will not be displayed again, anywhere.  Hint: BUY. Do not hesitate, and do consider making an offer even before a painting is complete. Some artists have sold paintings even before a brushstroke has reached the canvas. 

July 21, Small Painting Sunday Exhibit and Sale: Library at the Armory, 10am-3pm Small Painting Sunday begins promptly at 10am. This is a singular opportunity to view, enjoy and purchase from among the 58 not-previously-exhibited 6”x 8” paintings as they are released for show and sale.  All were painted on location during the week; these tiny jewels are hard to resist, and are perfect for gifts or for new collectors.  This event features live music, a light brunch, mimosas and Bloody Marys. 

July 21, Plein Air Easton’s Judge’s Talk: Library at the Armory, 2pm – 3pm Dr. David Levy (educator, museum director, art historian, designer/photographer, musician and this year’s competition judge) will explain his award choices in the festival’s culminating event.  This is a great opportunity to learn what constitutes a winning painting, and the thought processes behind the judge’s decisions.

Plein Air Easton is the work of the Avalon Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster a strong community on the Eastern Shore by creating accessible, uplifting arts, education, and cultural experiences that appeal to the interests of a diverse population and to ensure the long term viability of the historic Avalon Theatre.

This event is supported by Talbot County Arts Council, donations from corporations, small businesses, media outlets, Friends of Plein Air Easton, and strong community support. Donations 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 most popular annual events and the nation’s largest outdoor painting competition.

For more information, visit pleinaireaston.com, email info@pleinaireaston.com or call the Plein Air Easton hotline at 410.822.7297.

Easton, Maryland is located approximately 1 hour from Baltimore-Washington International/Thurgood Marshall Airport; 1.5 hours from the DC and Baltimore Metro Areas; 2 hours from Philadelphia and 3 hours from New York City.