The Orange County Arts Commission presents the 7th Annual Paint It Orange Plein Air Paint-Out and Wet Paint Sale October 4-6, 2023. Last year’s Paint it Orange hosted 66 painters from four states, and sold 22 paintings during the Wet Paint Sale! The event celebrates artists of all types and all abilities and combines gorgeous scenery with the opportunity to meet other painters from around the region. Read about last year’s winners here.
New this year, we have added a youth competition open to 50 middle and high schoolers in both Orange County school systems. Artwork will be displayed in the Eno Arts Mill Hall Gallery and judged by Paint it Orange Juror Scott Boyle, with both students and the 1st Place school art departments winning cash prizes! Registration is free but required.
Read below for guidelines and more information.
JUROR: SCOTT BOYLE
Born a dreamer, Scott Boyle has always been fascinated by the view outside and the world of possibilities. At an early age Scott was noticed to have unusual drawing abilities. Growing up in Indiana, his parents furnished him art lessons, receiving weekly instruction for 10 years with well-known Brown County artists. That had a remarkable influence during his formative years. While art captured Scott’s attention during his youth and would seem to become a normal way of life, he always had one eye on the sky and was fascinated with airplanes. At the age of 17 he took his first flying lesson to check out the view from above. Totally captured by that experience, Scott switched courses to become an airline pilot at the age of 22. Though his budding art career seemed to be sidetracked, the creative dreamer began to emerge again as he matured.
After moving to the beautiful state of North Carolina, Scott began to paint again in his late thirties. Armed with the ability to travel he began taking workshops and visiting art museums around the country. One of the greatest renaissances to his art has been the discovery of painting outdoors, known today as plein air painting. Since 2005, Scott has been organizing paint out events with friends, which has now grown to become the North Carolina Plein Air Painters (NCPAP). He is also an active member of the Plein Air Painters of the Southeast (PAP-SE) and the Blue Ridge Realists.
Today Scott’s focus is to share the incredible beauty he discovers while exploring the Southern Appalachians with small plein air pieces and larger studio works.
Scott, and his wife Esther, live in rural Gaston County of North Carolina.
AWARDS
1st Place High School: $100.00 student/$300 High School Art Department
2nd Place High School: $75.00
3rd Place High School: $50.00
1st Place Middle School: $100.00/$300 Middle School Art Department
2nd Place Middle School: $75.00
3rd Place Middle School: $50.00
People’s Choice: $100.00 People’s Choice voting will be open throughout the exhibit through October and November. All Paint it Orange works, including student work, are eligible for People’s Choice.
GUIDELINES FOR YOUTH PARTICIPANTS
- Painting Area: Artists may paint any subject or scene outdoors within Orange County, including the towns of Hillsborough, Chapel Hill and Carrboro. The sites must be accessible to the public and should not impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic. Artists are expected to maintain complete respect for private venues, and agree to not enter private property without written or verbal permission granted by the property owner. Artists will be required to wear their name tags at all times. Painting(s) must be completed in the outdoor area and not from photographs. A map of recommended painting sites will be provided.
- Canvases and Painting Timeframe: Two 11×14 canvases will be provided for all youth participants. Canvases will be stamped with the Paint it Orange stamp; only Paint it Orange-stamped canvases are allowed to be submitted for juroring.
- Juroring and Wet Paint Sale: Youth participants may submit one work for the competition. Only stamped works can be shown or sold. All submitted pieces must be labeled with artist’s name, title, and price. All work must be properly wired (no saw tooth hangers). Watch a video on how to wire your work here. Framing is optional; frame should not exceed 1″. Unframed works must have painted edges. The OCAC reserves the right to exclude works not properly prepared for display. Artwork will remain on display through October.
- Proceeds from the Wet Paint Sale: For all work sold, the Orange County Arts Alliance (on behalf of the Orange County Arts Commission) will retain a 40% commission. The OCAA will collect all monies from the sale of artwork, including tax, through the end of October. Artists will receive payment by December 31.
- Unsold Artwork: Artists may donate unsold artwork, pick up their work the week of November 26, or have artwork mailed at their own expense. After January 31, 2024, remaining work will become property of the OCAC.
- Use of images: Artists agree to allow the OCAC use of images produced during the event.
MAP
A printed map will provided to you in your artist bag; you can also access our Orange County Plein Air Sites Google Map here!
SCHEDULE
- Registration deadline: Monday, September 25, 11:59pm
- Canvas pick-up: Friday, September 29, with school art teachers
- Painting window: Friday, September 29 through Monday, October 2nd
- Canvas turn-in: Before 9am on Tuesday, October 3rd with school art teachers
- Awards Reception & Preview Party (for artists, family, and sponsors): Friday, October 6 | 5-6pm at the Eno Mill Gallery
- Wet Paint Sale: Begins at 6pm on Friday, October 6 following Awards Reception and Preview Party. Will be on display through October.
FAQ’s
Q: Can I register in person?
A: Yes. You can register in person until 5pm on Monday, September 25 the OCAC office (437 Dimmocks Mill Rd., Suite 17, Hillsborough).
Q: Can I frame my canvas?
A: Yes, but this is not required. Frames must not exceed 1″ width. Unframed works should have painted edges.
Q: Are surfaces other than canvas allowed?
A: No, we ask all youth participants to use the provided canvases.
Q: Are other mediums allowed?
A: Yes! Watercolor, pastel, charcoal, crayon, collage… whatever you wish to use.
Other questions? Email us at kmurray (at) orangecountync (dot) gov.
REGISTER
Registration is FREE but required. The registration deadline is Monday, September 18 and the first 50 registrants will be accepted. Please note: registration must be completed by a parent or guardian.
