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Join Paint Annapolis 2023 as a Student Artist

We’re welcoming middle-school and high-school-age artists to paint alongside the plein air pros for Paint Annapolis 2023. Come explore the light, colors, and scenes of Annapolis through paint with us and exhibit your plein air work in our Pop Up Gallery. This is a free event open to young artists grades 6 through 12.

Schedule

  • May 1 – Jun 3 Sign up is open for Student Artists. 
  • Jun 4, 9 – 11 AM Dueling Brushes will take place at the Susan B. Campbell Park at City Dock. Stamping for Dueling Brushes ONLY will be at Circle Gallery from 8 – 8:45 AM. Painting will take place from 9 – 11 AM. Artists must be set up at City Dock by 11:15 AM with their completed and framed work on their own easel. Awards will be announced at 1 PM. Stamping for the rest of the week (including the nocturne) will be from 1:30 – 2 PM at City Dock. Bring your work from Dueling Brushes and get the rest of your canvases stamped from 2:30 – 4 PM at the Pop Up Gallery (4 Church Circle).
  • Jun 5 – 8 Stamping will be every day at the Pop Up Gallery from 11 AM – 4 PM. Artists may paint in the designated areas any time on these days.
  •  Jun 6 Paint the Bay Reception will take place at the Annapolis Maritime Museum (723 Second Street, Annapolis) from 6 – 8 PM. Student Artists can come see some of the Juried Artists’ first works on display. This event is free and open to the public.
  • Jun 7 Dinner Under the Stars will take place from 5 – 10 PM on Wednesday. Artists are encouraged to take advantage of the lively atmosphere during Dinner Under the Stars and paint their nocturne from dusk on Wednesday to dawn on Thursday within the designated Nocturne boundary map. Painters will need to have their canvases stamped with the special Nocturne stamp before painting.
  • Jun 8 Art on the Avenue will see Maryland Avenue closed to traffic starting in the early afternoon and open to artists for painting, sales, and jurying. Times to be announced.
  • Jun 9 Work drop off for the Student Artists will be at the Paint Annapolis Pop Up Gallery from 9 AM – 12 PM. No late work will be accepted. Work must be framed and wired for hanging. No exceptions. Artists may paint in the morning before turning their work in.
  • Jun 10 Paint Annapolis Exhibition officially begins. The Pop Up Gallery will be open everyday from 11 AM – 5 PM. The Paint Annapolis Opening Reception is tonight from 5 – 7 PM at the Pop Up Gallery. Awards for the Public and Student Artists will be announced at 6 PM. This event is free and open to the public.
  • Jun 21 Closing Reception from 5 – 7 PM at the Pop Up Gallery. This is your last chance to view the work by the Public and Student Artists. This event is free and open to the public.
  • Jun 22 – 25, 12 – 4 PM Public and Student Artists pick up of unsold work.

Recommended Supplies for Plein Air Painting

  • Medium of choice as well as a canvas, panel, or paper to work on, preferably in standard sizes. Joanna suggests bringing several of each or paper to practice on just in case.
  • A water bottle to stay hydrated and for water to wet brushes.
  • Paint pallet (for acrylic, you can use a paper or plastic plate. For oil, use a plastic or wooden palette. Palette paper is fine for either medium. Strongly recommend a grey or neutral-colored surface. White surfaces in the sun can make it hard to mix the correct value).
  • Gamsol or odorless Terpenoid for oil paints.
  • A trash bag, paper towels or rags, and a water cup for your brushes.
  • Some kind of head covering, sunscreen, and clothes you don’t mind getting paint on or a smock shirt.
  • If you have access to one, bring an easel.

Where to Get Painting Supplies and Frames

Stressing about what kinds of oil paints to get? Don’t know where to get stretched canvases? For professional framing like the pros, head to West Annapolis Artworks & Fine Framing. If you’re looking for a frame on the fly, Michaels is a great last-minute choice with standard sizes for frames and mats.

Rules for Artwork

  1. It is required that all artwork have a Paint Annapolis 2022 registration stamp visible and accessible to be exhibited. Stamping will occur at the Paint Annapolis Pop Up Gallery (4 Church Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401). Panels, paper, and canvases should be blank before being stamped.
  2. Acceptable mediums are pastel, watercolor, acrylic, or oil paint. Artists will need to supply their own painting supplies.
  3. All artwork must be painted en Plein Air, or outside, without the use of photographs.
  4. All artwork submitted for exhibition, awards, and/or sales must be framed, wired, and ready to hang.
  5. Students may paint as many pieces as they want but only two (2) pieces plus a Nocturne will hang for jurying in MFA’s Pop Up gallery. The pieces hung in the Pop Up Gallery will be the ones juried for awards.
  6. Artwork may not exceed 32 inches in any direction. Mat and frame are included in the size measurement.
  7. Work submitted for exhibition and awards will hang in the Paint Annapolis Pop Up Gallery through June 15.
  8. Artists must pick up their unsold artwork between June 16 – 18. Work not picked up within 90 days becomes the property of MFA.

Artists’ Sales

  1. Paintings submitted for exhibition must be available for sale.
  2. Artists receive 60% of the purchase price for any work sold throughout Paint Annapolis.
  3. Only MFA personnel may complete a sale.
  4. By participating in Paint Annapolis, artists agree not to conduct sales or presales of their paintings outside the commission structure. Commission proceeds for all sales support current and future Paint Annapolis events and help MFA achieve our mission of supporting artists at all points of their careers through exhibition and professional development opportunities.
  5. MFA will keep artists updated on whether their piece sells during the exhibition.