Paint It ! Ellicott City will take place July 8 through 11 in historic Ellicott City. The annual plein air paint-out event features artists from around the region setting up their easels outdoors and painting directly from life.
Sponsored by the Howard County Arts Council, Howard County Tourism and The Ellicott City Partnership, the event culminates in an exhibit at the Howard County Center for the Arts through Aug. 19.
The following were selected to be the juried artists competing for a minium of $5,000 in awards:
Lissa Abrams, Randall Graham, Duane Sabiston, Joanna Barnum, Debra Howard, Ann Schaefer, Beth Bathe, Caroline Jasper, John Slivjak, Jennifer Brakefield, Greg Johannesen, Charles Snell, Sid Branham, Barry Koplowitz, Sharon Trumbull, David Diaz, Michael Kotarba, Robert Vail, Raymond Ewing, Deborah Maklowski, Tara Will, Erin Gill, Alison Leigh Menke, Matt Fenton, Maria Marino.
Everyone is invited to set-up an easel and paint in historic Ellicott City along with the juried artists throughout the event. All works done can be exhibited in the HCCA's lobby during the reception on July 11. Afterwards, the works will be moved to the Howard County Welcome Center in Ellicott City to be on display through the remainder of summer.
A quick draw competition on July 9 will feature artists competing for cash prizes as they take a painting from start to finish in just two hours. The event is presented by Mat About You Gallery.
Howard Community College will host a special gallery exhibit, "Virtuosity and Versatility: 75 Years of Gino Manelli's Work," a retrospective of the late Howard County artist, which runs through July 22 with a free reception on July 9.
Manelli was an Ellicott City artist who created landscapes, portraits and still life in a variety of media and styles. The $2,000 Gino award was named in honor of Manelli and will be awarded to one or two of the juried artists competing in the Paint It! Ellicott City event on July 11.
The schedule of events of Paint It! Ellicott City are as follows:
Thursday July 7: Registration, artist and VIP welcome and juror presentation, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Howard County Welcome Center, 8267 Main St., Ellicott City.
Friday, July 8-Sunday, July 10: Paint-out! Registration and information, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Howard County Welcome Center, 8267 Main St., Ellicott City.
Saturday, July 9: Quick Draw Competition: Registration 9 a.m.; Quick Draw from 10 a.m. to noon. Award presentation is at 1 p.m. For more information, or to participate in the Quick Draw Competition, contact Chuck Gruss at Mat About You Gallery & Custom Framing at 410-313-8860 or Charles@mataboutyou.com
Monday, July 11: Reception & awards presentation: 6 to 8 p.m., Howard County Arts Council, 8510 High Ridge Road, Ellicott City.