Paint It! Ellicott City Event & Exhibition

During the weekend of July 6–8, artists will take to the streets of Historic Ellicott City to participate in Paint It! Ellicott City, a plein air painting event. The Howard County Arts Council (HCAC), Howard County Tourism, and Howard County Public Schools are presenting this paint-out weekend culminating in an exhibit of 28 juried artists at the Howard County Center for the Arts.

The weekend begins with an artist & VIP welcome reception at the Howard County Welcome Center on Thursday, July 5 from 6–7:30pm. At 7:00, Paint It juror Matt Klos, an artist and Chair of the Visual Arts Department at Anne Arundel Community College, will give a presentation on plein air painting. Then, all day on July 6–8, artists will set up their easels around Ellicott City’s historic district and paint the picturesque mill town. Members of the public are encouraged to come watch the local artists in action while strolling Main Street’s sidewalks. On Sunday, in the Sunday Market near Mat About You Gallery, there will be a Painting Preview from 10am-2pm where visitors can view the artists’ work. Registered artists and art students from the community can also join in the fun, painting alongside the juried artists as “open paint-out” participants.

The weekend’s artwork will be exhibited at the Howard County Center for the Arts beginning July 9. The juried artists will be featured in HCAC’s Gallery I through August 17; open paint-out artists’ work will be displayed in the Center’s lobby on reception night, then moved to a temporary exhibit at the new Howard County Tourism Welcome Center in Ellicott City. Artists and visitors may view and purchase the finished pieces during the free opening reception on July 9 from 6-8PM, when the juror will hand out awards to the artists.

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 Tourism Welcome Center, and online on the “Exhibits” page at www.hocoarts.org. Online registration is also available at www.visithowardcounty.com.

Paint It! Ellicott City will be on display with Recording the Personal Landscape, featuring paintings by Patricia DiBella-Kreger and photographs from Christina Anderson, July 9 through August 17, 2012.  Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 10 am – 8 pm, Saturday 10 am – 4 pm, and Sunday 12 – 4 pm.  To learn more about these and other HCAC programs call 410-313-ARTS (2787).