Plein air is the most challenging form of painting, and it takes years of dedication and some professional help to get a good grip on. It is easy to see which artists have that grip, and which ones are on the cusp, and which ones are slowly getting there. I respect anyone who has the courage to get outside and try, often to fail, but to push on and keep trying. -- John Hulsey, The Artist's Road
11th Annual Plein Air Painting Festival
Welcoming Entry Juror: Candace Castle: www.candacecastle.com
Entries accepted March 15 - May 15, 2025.
Painting begins July 1st.
Artists Painting Day at Ladew Gardens: Thursday, September 11, 2025.
Gallery & Quick Draw at Bel Air Armory, Sept 12 - 14, 2025.
Welcoming Dr. Jacalyn Beam as Festival Awards and Quick Draw Juror: Plein Air Painter
Welcoming Entry Juror: Candace Castle: www.candacecastle.com
Entries accepted March 15 - May 15, 2025.
Painting begins July 1st.
Artists Painting Day at Ladew Gardens: Thursday, September 11, 2025.
Gallery & Quick Draw at Bel Air Armory, Sept 12 - 14, 2025.
Welcoming Dr. Jacalyn Beam as Festival Awards and Quick Draw Juror: Plein Air Painter
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Harford County's premier Plein Air Festival is comprised of a juried competition and a community-based quick draw competition, which annually draw professional artists from across the U.S. to capture the county's charms. The Festival's unique format allows painters to work at their own pace from July 1 to September 12, competing for thousands of dollars in cash prizes and sales commissions.
Welcoming our 2025 Juried Artists: Lissa Abrams Misty Letts Bruno Baran Lynn Lewis Pamela Betts Zhaobo Li Christopher Best Denise Matuk-Kroupa Joyce Blair Matthew Mitchell Claudia Brookes Denise McDaniel Jerry Brown Lia Pierson Ann Crostic Christine Rapa Ronaldo Dorado Pearl Regmi Dana Enders Duane Sabiston Nancy Fine Oleg Shvets Tarryl Gabel Therese Spadaro Rana Geralis Barbara Stepura Laurie Kopec Eliner Tryon-Elgin Kathleen Kotarba Pamela Wilde |
Sponsor our 2025 Awards, Artists, or the Festival:
Part of the mission of the Maryland Center for the Arts is to support the work of artists in a variety of genres. In the Harford Plein Air Festival, we provide cash awards to our juried artists and the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Center's general operations.
Another part of the mission is to make the arts affordable to the community. This year, the Gallery Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony and the Youth Art Activities are free. Grants received from the Maryland State Arts Council, the Harford County Cultural Arts Board with funds from the Maryland State Arts Council, and from the Harford County Office of Economic Development only partially support the Festival.
You can help support the Festival and receive benefits according to your level of sponsorship. Your support will go towards cash awards, ribbons for juried artists, community adults, and students, hospitality for the artists, lodging for out-of-town artists, entertainment at the Plein Air events, marketing, and printed hand-outs for the community.
For further information, contact Amy Riley: [email protected].
We're partnering with the Bel Air Festival of the Arts, which draws 20,000 plus visitors on
Sunday, Sept. 14, at Shamrock Park, one block from the Bel Air Armory.
Thank you to our current and previous Sponsors:
Part of the mission of the Maryland Center for the Arts is to support the work of artists in a variety of genres. In the Harford Plein Air Festival, we provide cash awards to our juried artists and the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Center's general operations.
Another part of the mission is to make the arts affordable to the community. This year, the Gallery Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony and the Youth Art Activities are free. Grants received from the Maryland State Arts Council, the Harford County Cultural Arts Board with funds from the Maryland State Arts Council, and from the Harford County Office of Economic Development only partially support the Festival.
You can help support the Festival and receive benefits according to your level of sponsorship. Your support will go towards cash awards, ribbons for juried artists, community adults, and students, hospitality for the artists, lodging for out-of-town artists, entertainment at the Plein Air events, marketing, and printed hand-outs for the community.
For further information, contact Amy Riley: [email protected].
We're partnering with the Bel Air Festival of the Arts, which draws 20,000 plus visitors on
Sunday, Sept. 14, at Shamrock Park, one block from the Bel Air Armory.
Thank you to our current and previous Sponsors:
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Save the Date: Harford Plein Air Festival 2026: Sept. 11 - 13th.