Paint It! Ellicott City 2016 Winners Announced

Landscape artists from around the Mid-Atlantic region – and as far away as Fort Collins, Colorado! – gathered in Historic Ellicott City July 8–10, capturing the picturesque mill town’s many charms while competing for cash prizes during the seventh annual Paint It! Ellicott City plein air paint-out.

A reception at the Howard County Arts Council on July 11 featured the premiere of an exhibit showcasing the work of 25 juried artists; a one-night showing of work completed by non-juried participants in the Open Paint-Out; and the presentation of nearly $6,000 in awards to the artists.

The top two prizes, the $1,000 Gino Awards named in honor of Ellicott City artist Gino Manelli (1915–2010), were presented to Debra Howard for Steps to Church Street and Alison Leigh Menke for Cooling Down.

Awards juror Gino Molfino presented the following juror awards:

· 1st place, $800: Greg Johannesen, St. Paul Street

· 2nd place, $700: John Slivjak, House on Hill Street

· 3rd place, $600: David Diaz, First Light

· 4th place, $500: Duane Sabiston, Splash in Patapsco

· Honorable Mention, $200: Raymond Ewing, Wired; and Sharon Trumbull, Church Road Charmer

Howard County Blossoms of Hope's Award for Best Depiction of Nature, $250, went to Randall Graham for Afternoon Clouds.

Patapsco Heritage Greenway’s Best Depiction of the Patapsco River Award, $300, went to Courtney E. Lee for Mill View, along with an accompanying purchase award of $320.

Awards were also presented to the Open Paint Artists:

· Howard County Tourism Director's Choice Award, $100: Mary Jo Tydlacka, Three Musketeers

· Howard County Arts Council Director's Choice Award, $100: Jane Knighton, Main Street Aglow

Paint Down Main, a quick draw competition presented by Mat About You Gallery & Framing and the Ellicott City Partnership, returned for its second year. Nearly 50 artists painted in a limited area of Main Street for two hours on Saturday morning and the judges selected the following award winners: 1st Place: Alison Leigh Menke, Main Street Ellicott City; 2nd Place: Courtney E. Lee, Little House, Big Woods; 3rd Place: Raymond Ewing, Wired. 1st Place, Non-Juried: Jane Knighton, Tiber River – Under Parking Lot; Honorable Mention: Tara Will, Old Columbia Pike; Joanna Barnum, Ask Not; Ann Crostic, Tiger & Blues; Deborah Cole, Tongue Row. 1st Place, Under 18: Ashley Hof, Oriental Rugs; Honorable Mention: Laila Lowery, Park; Jonathan Storch, City Shop. People’s Choice Award: Tara Will, Old Columbia Pike.

The exhibit featuring the juried artists’ work remains on display at the Howard County Arts Council and artwork created during the Open Paint-Out is on view at the Howard County Tourism Welcome Center through August 19.

Paint It! Ellicott City is presented by Howard County Arts Council, Howard County Tourism & Promotion, Mat About You Gallery & Framing, Ellicott City Partnership, and the Howard County Public School System. For more information on this and other Arts Council programs, visit hocoarts.org.