Paint It! Ellicott City 2018

Artists from around the region will gather in Historic Ellicott City the weekend of July 6-8 to participate in Paint It! Ellicott City, an annual plein air painting event. The Howard County Arts Council (HCAC), Howard County Tourism, the Historic Ellicott City Partnership, and Howard County Public Schools are presenting this paint-out weekend culminating in exhibits of artwork created by juried and Open Paint artists at the Howard County Center for the Arts.

The event begins with an Artist & VIP Welcome Reception at the Howard County Welcome Center on Thursday, July 5 at 6pm. Then, all day on July 6-8, artists will set up their easels throughout the Ellicott City historic district, striving to capture the scenic mill town and all its charms. Members of the public are invited to come see the artists at work while strolling Main Street’s sidewalks and shops. Artists and art students from the community can also join in the fun, painting alongside the juried artists as Open Paint-Out participants.

Artists and visitors are invited to attend a free opening reception at the Howard County Center for the Arts on Monday, July 9 from 6-8pm. The juried artists will be featured in HCAC’s Gallery I through August 17; Open Paint-Out artists’ work will also be displayed in the Center’s lobby. During the reception, awards will be presented to the artists by juror Bennett Vadnais, a Baltimore-based painter who specializes in the urban landscape.

Registration is required for those wishing to be included in the Open Paint-Out exhibits. Registration forms are available at the Arts Council, the Howard County Welcome Center, and online at https://www.hocoarts.org/explore/opportunities-artists-arts-groups/exhibit-opportunities-apply/specific-exhibits/paint-it/ before or during the event.

Arts Council gallery hours are Monday through Friday 10am – 8pm, Saturday 10am – 4pm, and Sunday 12 – 4pm. To learn more about Paint It! Ellicott City and other HCAC programs, visit hocoarts.org or call 410-313-ARTS (2787).