The 22nd annual Plein Air Easton concluded another remarkable year, bringing together world-class artists, passionate collectors, dedicated volunteers, generous sponsors, and thousands of visitors for ten days celebrating art, community, and the landscapes of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. From misty mornings and passing summer storms to glowing sunsets over Talbot County, the festival once again transformed the region into an open-air studio while reinforcing its reputation as the nation’s largest and most prestigious juried plein air competition.
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The festival officially began as 58 juried artists gathered in Easton to have their blank canvases stamped before setting out across Talbot County. Over the following week, they painted waterfronts, farms, historic towns, and quiet country roads entirely on location, capturing the beauty and character of the Eastern Shore on canvas.
Festivities kicked off with Downtown Easton welcoming visitors for the annual Community Paint-Out and the popular Shop to Win raffle. As dusk settled over Easton, artists filled the streets for the annual Nocturne Paint-Out, creating luminous scenes beneath the evening sky.
On Tilghman Island, juried artists once again captured the island’s distinctive maritime character during the day, with Danny Robbins earning the Tilghman Artist’s Choice Award, sponsored by the Tilghman Watermen’s Museum and an evening exhibition and reception at the Tilghman Fire Hall.
Festival Headquarters offered visitors the opportunity to view and purchase an ever-changing collection of original plein air paintings created throughout the competition. The exhibition became a daily destination for collectors and art lovers eager to follow the artists’ progress as new work arrived each day.
The competition culminated when artists submitted their finest paintings for judging. This year’s competition was judged by Dr. Mary Morton, Head of the Department of French Paintings at the National Gallery of Art, who carefully evaluated the exceptional body of work created during the festival.
The excitement accelerated at the sold-out Collectors’ Preview Party, where enthusiastic collectors enjoyed the first opportunity to acquire this year’s competition paintings. Before the evening’s main awards were presented, Plein Air Easton proudly honored its long-standing partnership with the Waterfowl Festival with an induction into the Hall of Fame. The night celebrated not only artistic excellence, but also the vibrant community and trusted partnerships that have helped the festival flourish for more than two decades.
“Plein Air Easton continues to demonstrate what makes this community so special,” said Al Bond, Executive Director of the Avalon Foundation. “From the extraordinary talent of the artists to the generosity of our sponsors, volunteers, host families, and patrons, this festival is made possible by people who believe in the power of art to bring communities together. We’re grateful to everyone who helped make this year’s event an outstanding success.“
2026 Plein Air Easton Winners
- Grand Prize: Lyudmila Tomova Clark, “Working Neighbors”
- Artists’ Choice: Patrick Lee, “Dear Easton”
- 2nd Place: Henry Coe, “Farm on the Edge of Town”
- 3rd Place: Jill Banks, “If Boats Could Talk”
At the Quick Draw competition, any artist with $10 and the ambition to complete a painting in two hours or less was encouraged to participate. Nearly 200 artists showcased their work at the curbside exhibition. Before Dr. Morton presented the awards, Al Bond took a moment to recognize Ted Mueller for his generous contributions and years of volunteer service photographically documenting Plein Air Easton.
Quick Draw Prizes were then awarded to:
- First Place: James Sampsel (Awarded a cash prize, a custom Walnut Art Easel, and an invitation to return as a juried competition artist for Plein Air Easton 2027)
- Second Place: Zufar Bikbov
- Third Place: Anette Power
While the Quick Draw competition gives every participant an equal shot at the top prizes, Plein Air Easton also presents three dedicated awards to recognize exceptional work by non-juried artists.
This year’s Non-Juried Artist Awards went to:
- First Place: Yik Check Phan
- Second Place: Doug Clarke
- Third Place: Penv Planner
The festival concluded on Small Painting Sunday, where the final awards were presented and the community paused to honor the life and legacy of Suzan Brice with a posthumous induction into the Hall of Fame. As collectors carried home their newly acquired paintings, Plein Air Easton once again showcased not only extraordinary artistic talent but also the warmth, hospitality, and creative spirit that define Talbot County. The Avalon Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to the artists, sponsors, volunteers, host families, collectors, and thousands of visitors whose enthusiasm continues to make Plein Air Easton one of the country’s premier outdoor painting festivals.
To learn more, please visit www.pleinaireaston.com.
Looking for ways to improve your painting skills?
Don’t miss your opportunity to create lifetime memories at the Plein Air Convention & Expo! All training sessions are indoors on giant, high-def screens, with incredible paint-outs in the afternoons. Beginners and pros feel right at home, so register at PleinAirConvention.com to join us.
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Blog post prepared for the web by Cherie Dawn Haas, Editor of Plein Air Today
