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  • Harford Arts Week

"Harford County is a plein air painter's dream.
​It offers such a variety of subjects and locations."
                                                                   2020 Festival Juried Artist

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2020 work-in-progress, Sandhya Sharma

7th Annual
Harford Plein Air Painting
Festival

Thanks to the many fine artists who applied to
"the best plein air competition on the local circuit"! 

Juried artists were notified on June 1, 2021.
​Public announcement on July 1, 2021.

Click here to see their works-in-progress, starting July 1.

​
The 7th Annual Harford Plein Air Painting Festival will be shared online with an in-person exhibition, judging, and celebration, depending upon COVID-19 restrictions. All juried artists will paint between July 1 and September 6, submitting time-stamped photos of their work for an online blog.  Juried artists may submit a maximum of five paintings for award consideration; artists residing beyond the Harford County area may enter a maximum of two works (of the five total) painted outside Harford County for Honorable Mention award consideration only.  All other paintings for consideration must be painted in Harford County. 
  • Entry Juror:  Eric Fuson, Executive Director, Albrecht-Kemper Museum, St. Joseph, MO.
  • Spirit of Maryland Award Judge:  Yumi Hogan, Adjunct Professor, Maryland Institute College of Art
  • Works-in-Progress will be posted on a daily blog and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts.
  • Paintings submitted for judging will be available for online viewing and purchase from September 18-November 20. 
  • Some Festival paintings will be on exhibit at Liriodendron in October.
  • ​See below for complete schedule.
EVENT SCHEDULE:
Feb. 8 - May 15:  Artists applied to the Festival.
June 1:  Juried artists will be notified via email to applicants.
July 1 - Sept. 6:  Juried artists paint outdoors around Harford County until Thursday, Sept. 16.                                    Follow their progress on our Works-in-Progress blog.
Sun., Aug. 1:  Tickets go on sale for the 
Collector's Preview Party and Awards Ceremony.
                        
Entries accepted for the Quick Draw Competition.
Thurs., Sept. 16:  Nocturne Paint-Out, watch our juried artists paint along Main Street, Bel Air,
                         by the light of the moon, street and shop lights, starts at 6:30 pm,
                         sponsored by the Town of Bel Air Cultural Arts Commission.
Fri., Sept. 17:  Join us at the Bel Air Armory for the Collector's Preview Party and Awards Ceremony, 6:30pm.
​​Sat., Sept. 18 - Public exhibition and gallery sale at the Bel Air Armory, 10am - 5pm. 
Sat., Sept. 18 - Quick Draw Competition, Havre de Grace, juried, community, & youth artists, 
                              co-sponsored by the Havre de Grace Arts Collective. 
Wed., Sept. 22, 29, Oct. 6, 13, 20, & Sun., Oct. 10 - Public exhibition at The Liriodendron Mansion, Bel Air.​
Sept. 19 - Nov. 20 - Online Exhibition and Sales.
Plein Air painting is derived from the French phrase "open air" and means that the painting is done outdoors.  Plein air painters create art "from life" while on-site at an outdoor location, instead of painting from photographs.  This is a juried competition, meaning that the artists apply to be accepted into the competition to submit plein air paintings for awards judging.

Be a Sponsor!  Join these generous organizations in supporting the Harford Plein Air Festival.  Click the button below to find out how to become a sponsor. 
Sponsor Plein Air
Sponsorship Information
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This program is sponsored in part by grants from the Maryland State Arts Council, the Harford County Cultural Arts Board with funds from Maryland State Arts Council, and the Harford County Office of Community and Economic Development.   Special thanks to Plein Air Magazine and Fine Art Connoisseur as the Premier Media Sponsors! ​Don't miss the limited exhibition at The Liriodendron Mansion in Bel Air.
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QUICK DRAW COMPETITION - Saturday, September 18

​​Registration for community artists of all ages opens August 1, 2021.
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Co-sponsored by our friends at the
​Havre de Grace Arts Collective,
​at the Havre de Grace ​Opera House.
Click on their logo ​for more information.
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Quick draw means that the paintings are completed during a timed period; in this case, the artists have from 9am to 11am to start and finish their paintings.  Judging by a professional artist, awards, and sales follow.  The Harford Plein Air Painting Festival's Quick Draw Competition is intended for artists in three categories, beginner to advanced:  juried artists in this year's plein air festival; adult community artists 18 and up; and youth under age 18.
2020 Quick Draw Competition winners by category.  Hover cursor over painting to read caption:
Maryland Center for the Arts  •  443-567-5216  •  PO Box 687  Bel Air, MD 21014  •   Privacy Notice  •   Copyright © 2022 All Rights Reserved.
The Maryland Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, Inc. (aka "Maryland Center for the Arts") is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
20-3022352
  • Home
  • Arts Programs
    • Instrument Petting Zoo
    • Rejoice!
    • Bear Legacy Bluegrass Festival
    • Harford Plein Air Festival >
      • Online Gallery
      • About the Artists >
        • Awards Juror
        • Lissa Abrams
        • Bruno Baran
        • Alison Barry
        • Barbara Israel Bortniker
        • Anthony Bowes
        • Claudia Brookes
        • Henry Coe
        • Cathy Cole
        • Ann Crostic
        • John Eiseman
        • Dana Enders
        • Kathleen Gray Farthing
        • David Finnell
        • Marjorie Haley
        • Rajendra KC
        • Kathleen Kotarba
        • Denise Matuk-Kroupa
        • Denise McDaniel
        • Helen Lee Meyers
        • Amanda Milliner
        • Crystal Moll
        • Chris Rapa
        • Tom Ritchie
        • Maggii Sarfaty
        • William Schulze
        • Francisco Silva
        • Barbara Stepura
        • Pamela Wilde
        • Katie Yost
    • Bugs, Birds, and Beauty
    • Lectures >
      • Joan Hodous
      • Edgar Allan Poe Theatrical Program
    • Master Classes >
      • Ballet Master Class with ABT Dancers
      • Music Master Class Program
    • Virtual Classroom
    • Author Conversations >
      • Judy Kelly & Dr. Christine Sciacca
      • Larry Noto
  • 2023 Dancing for the Arts
  • About Us
    • Mission and Vision
    • Who We Are >
      • Board of Trustees
      • Staff
    • News, Notes, & Dates >
      • Newsletters
      • On the Air
      • Director's Notes
      • ArtSmash Podcasts
      • Events Calendar
    • Arts in the Community >
      • Community Arts Calendar
      • Economic Impact
      • Form 990
    • Connect with Us
  • Support
    • Fundraising Events >
      • Art is Brewing
      • Tasting for the Arts!
    • Advertising Opportunities
    • Sponsor the Arts
    • Donate
    • Membership
    • Volunteer
  • A Home for the Arts and more
    • On the Site
    • Let's Build It
    • Bear Legacy Adventure Trail
  • Harford Arts Week