The Solomons PleinAir Festival is an exciting plein air competition for both artists and viewers and the plans for the 2012 event will raise the bar even higher. The event takes place on Solomons Island and the surrounding communities of Solomons and Dowell. The area is unique in that it offers the painters such diversity of subject matter to choose from. Solomons Island is an historic fishing village where working boats of the Chesapeake Bay were built in the 1800s. It is located just an hour from the Beltway in D.C. at the "other end of Pennsylvania Avenue" where the Patuxent River meets the Chesapeake Bay. The landscape offers a picturesque mix of workboats, pleasure boats, marinas, old fishermen's cottages, rural farmland, and quaint architecture with a few shops scattered amongst historic waterfront buildings. Stand in one spot on the Solomons Riverwalk and you can paint any of these things and more.

Artists enjoy this competition because the town is so hospitable and welcoming. Social events are planned for the artists nightly and the businesses and restaurants welcome the artists with open arms. A number of families "Adopt an Artist" and open their homes to the artists during the 4 day event.

This year artists will paint from Wednesday until Friday with the Quick Draw being held on Saturday morning. Saturday also features the Street Fair from 10 am - 6 pm, including artisan booths, refreshments, games for children and adults. The culminating event on Saturday evening is the "Affaire of the Arts", where the competition paintings will be judged and displayed for sale. Awards will be presented and the event, open to the public, will feature refreshments, a bar and live musical entertainment. The 2012 collectible poster will be available at the event as well. Artists will be in attendance.

The Solomons Plein Air Festival is sponsored by the Solomons Business Association in conjunction with the College of Southern MD and carmen's gallery.

All profits generated from the event are used to support the signature events of the SBA: the Plein Air Festival, the July 4 fireworks, the Taste of Solomons, and the Solomons Christmas Walk. Additionally, there is a collectible poster that is sold which supports the above events and funds a student scholarship at the College of Southern MD.

Note: For sponsorship opportunities, please contact carmen at carmen's gallery at 410.326.2549 or email carmen@carmensgallery.com.

Participating Artists

Sponsors