Set up your easel and paint the town!

Paint It! Ellicott City is an annual event that brings artists and spectators interested in the plein air tradition to Historic Ellicott City. Both juried and Open Paint artists set up their easels around the historic district, enjoying a summer weekend as they capture the picturesque mill town and all its charms.

A popular feature of the event is the Quick Draw competition – open to both juried and Open Paint artists – in which artists take a plein air painting from start to finish in just two hours. A pop-up exhibit and sale of work completed during the Quick Draw is fun for spectators and artists alike.

Paint It! culminates in an exhibit of juried artists’ work in our gallery, which features an opening reception and juror’s award presentation. A temporary exhibit of work created by Open Paint artists is also on view in the lobby of the Center for the Arts. Artists and visitors may view and purchase the finished pieces during the reception.

Paint It! Ellicott City 2019 will be held June 27-July 1, 2019.

The deadline to apply for the juried portion of the event is April 19. Applications for the non-juried Open Paint portion of the event will be available in May.