Aug. 10 -Artists Paint OC
The Art League of Ocean City invites the public to view art being created on the spot during the 11th annual plein air event – “Artists Paint OC” – August 11-14. The public is also invited to view and collect the art during the Wet Paint Sale on Saturday, Aug. 13 at the Ocean City Center for the Arts.
“En plein air” is a French expression that means “in the open air,” used to describe the art of painting outdoors. Plein air events take place wherever the scenery is inspirational, artists congregate to paint it, and watchers gather to see the painters make art right before their eyes. Baltimore Magazine recently listed “Artists Paint OC” in their “50 Reasons Why We Love Our Beach.”
The annual event brings in 50 plein air painters and features many popular regional artists as well as painters from around the country. Artists will paint on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at picturesque spots around the resort. The Art League’s Facebook page will list some locations.
On Saturday, August 13, the artists will bring their best work to the Ocean City Center for the Arts to be judged and to participate in the Wet Paint Sale that evening. The Wet Paint Sale from 6-8 p.m. is free and open to the public – in 2015 drawing a crowd of over 300 – and an opportunity to collect original artwork of local scenes at affordable prices. The Wet Paint Sale continues at the Arts Center on Sunday, August 14 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday morning’s Quick Draw Contest wraps up the event. Artists will gather in downtown Ocean City and paint against the clock from 9-11 a.m. At 11 a.m. they return to the boardwalk at South Division Street where their work will be judged and winners announced. The public may purchase the art off-the-easel until 1 p.m.. The Ocean City Development Corp. sponsors the Quick Draw Contest. The plein air artwork will be on exhibit at the Ocean City Center for the Arts through the end of August.
Ocean City mayor Rick Meehan believes many visitors are surprised to learn the resort has a vibrant and active arts community, and the annual plein air event reinforces that awareness. “I cannot think of a more picturesque setting than the scenic views of Ocean City to inspire their creativity,” Meehan said. “I look forward to watching these events grow as our residents and visitors realize that art is alive in Ocean City.”
More information about the event is available online at www.artleagueofoceancity <http://www.artleagueofoceancity>.org or by calling the Ocean City Center for the Arts at 410-524-9433.
