Plein Air show Success Story

[Ned Mueller]

I just got back from the Easton Plein Air Show in Easton Maryland and it is quite an impressive show. They do a whole lot of things right and also have a lot of things going for them, because of their location. There were about 52 artists in the show and they sold over $250,000 in art for the weekend!! The town of Easton is very historical and has a lot of character and great buildings, streets and alleys. There are other very nice towns and villages, just as nice, and even better to paint in... along with great harbors, boatyards and such. The show is held in a nice Museum in Easton and they have a lot of enthusiastic volunteers and great community support and best of all.... they have a lot of wealth in the area being so close to Baltimore and Washington DC. From what I hear, see and experience it has to be one of the very best Plein Air Shows in the country right now! They have a lot of big awards also. I was fortunate enough to get their Grand Prize worth $5000...nothing to sneeze about! They have a lot of other awards for around $1000 and $2000 also. They put the artists up in very nice accomodations, mostly in private homes, or cottages as I was in. A lot of very friendly and generous people! A lot of the shows are really struggling and it is nice to have a show like this to set a standard and hopefully inspire some of the other shows. I know that it is very difficult and probably impossible to have all the options that Easton has, in a Museum, wealth and such, but there are some areas that do and can look to Easton for inspiration!

[Dennis Young]

How true, Ned. Easton sets the standard. Lots of people turn out not only to paint, but to look and to buy. Plus there are instructional lectures and demos and the awards judge gives a nice talk at the art museum where the paintings are shown. The judge goes over each of the winners and gives his reason for choosing the painting. What a big consolation prize, too, for those who haven't been selected, in learning about what a judge looks for or what to do differently. It's a nice affair and it seems that everyone in the town is supportive or involved. Plus, Easton has some very good restaurants and the Avalon Theater, a jewel from the past that hosts some very good and popular musicians.

Last summer the Quick Draw event was painted in 100 degree heat, but the crowds were still there. I worried that I would sweat onto my pastel painting and ruin it.  The plein air auction the next day was at a beautiful estate on the water, with a sumptuous brunch, and all 24 artists sold their painting of that morning.Your grand prize painting award was well deserved and humbly accepted.