Updated August 30, 2017 – by ellen shaughnessy
70 juried fine art and fine craft artists exhibit and compete to win $2000 in prizes on September 16 & 17, 2017 at the Riverside Festival of the Arts . They met where the rivers meet, in downtown Easton along the scenic banks of the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers. There was live music all weekend, childrens’ interactive art projects, and an 8th annual #EastonPleinAir Art Contest where you could win $1000 for the very the best art piece, and more cash-prizes for the next top two works.
Plein air art contest is a $30.00 entry, due by Sept. 1. Then create an art piece ‘en plein air’ (in the open air) over the weekend, and compete to win over $1500 in prizes.
Contestants in past annual Plein Air Art Contests hailed from a 100-mile radius. Plein air contestants hand in their art piece by the afternoon, and exhibit in a Plein Air Gallery where the entries are judged by three regional art celebrity judges.
Congratulations to this year’s winners $500 -1st place went to Michael Schade (Easton), $300 -2nd went to Dorothy Hoeshen for her 5th & Ferry watercolor, and $200 -3rd went to Annandale NJ’s John McNally.
Plein air works from over the years of this contest can be found in plein air art albums on facebook.com/riversideArts.
This year, a few Plein Air Art Workshops led by renowned artist and Baum School of Arts teacher Adriano Farinella and James Gloria in 2017 will lead up to the contest….
‘Easton is rich with subject matter for any plein-air painter. Whether it’s the Delaware River, Lehigh Canal, or the urban landscape and architecture, Easton is a prime destination for plein-air painters everywhere to come and explore. We are very fortunate to live in such a beautiful and inspiring area.’ ~Adriano Farinella
The 21st annual Riverside Arts Festival & Plein Air Art Contest will be on September 16+17, 2017 -find info on EastonRiversideFest.org
Plenty of drawing and sketching opportunities abound in our area! Check out:
- Lafayette College ‘open studio’ figure drawing events – open to the public!
- Fourth Tuesday Drink N Draw sessions, @connexions art gallery – also check out their ‘skin sessions’ LV DrInK’n’DrAw and Connexions Gallery get together for a night of life drawing. $10.00 – This is open to any artist who is looking to hone their skills or just try it for the first time.
It’s casual so don’t worry, bring your sketch book and come over to Easton! - Adriano Farinella’s plein air workshops
- also check out some of the new wine + draw new businesses in town: Bottle + Bottega
- more goings-on, in Easton: ExploreEaston
Like it * Follow it * The Riverside Festival of the Arts is an event run by Arts Community of Easton, Inc. (ACE), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Check out a quick video of Chauncey Howell’s Diddly Squatter & the pronunciation of En Plein Air, at #EastonPleinAir exhibition at the State Theatre Gallery.
