Working Artists Forum

From the very first Local Color exhibit in 2004, Working Artists Forum has helped shape the Plein Air Easton experience. Conceived as a venue for local artists not juried into the main competition, Local Color quickly became a destination in its own right—featuring public demos, a juried show, and a place for art lovers to gather while competition artists were out in the field.

“We were the first ones who opened demos that were free to the public,” said longtime volunteer and past president Nancy Thomas. “Back in the beginning, we were the place to go when there wasn’t anything else going on.”

Over the years, WAF has expanded the impact of Local Color. The event now features twice-daily demos by Plein Air Easton award winners, and its proceeds fund Dick Blick gift cards for 36 elementary schools across the Eastern Shore. “We give the cards in January,” said Local Color chair Maryellyn Lynott, “right when most art budgets have run out. The teachers are always thrilled.”

Today, WAF’s 100+ members continue to volunteer their time, share their work, and reinvest in the community that has supported them for over two decades. As Lynott said, “We do this to celebrate artists, help schools, and offer something meaningful to the people who come year after year.”