It’s back! The Orange County Arts Commission presents the 7th Annual Paint It Orange Plein Air Paint-Out and Wet Paint Sale October 4-6, 2023, presented by William Travis Jewelry. 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.
Artists are invited to Orange County, North Carolina, to capture the landscapes and landmarks of our beautiful communities of Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, and Carrboro. Participating artists will paint at sites of their choosing (maps are provided) throughout Orange County from October 4-6 and will submit two of their favorite paintings for jurying on Friday, October 6 at the Eno Arts Mill Gallery in Hillsborough.
An awards reception and preview party for artists and sponsors will take place at 5pm, followed by the Wet Paint Sale Party at 6pm, in which the submitted paintings will be available for sale to the general public.
New this year! Paint it Orange Plein Air Youth Competition, open to all middle and high schoolers in Orange County. Click here for 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
2nd Place: $500.00
3rd Place: $250.00
People’s Choice: $100.00 People’s Choice voting will be open throughout the exhibit through October and November.
GUIDELINES
- The first 70 artists to register will receive a complimentary artist goodie bag from Jerry’s Artarama!
- 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 list of recommended painting sites will be provided.
- Check-in: All artists must check in at the Orange County Arts Commission office at the Eno Mill in Hillsborough (see hours under “Schedule”). All painting surfaces must be stamped on-site at check-in prior to painting. Each piece must be painted during the event, with nothing pre-painted or pre-drawn. Alternative surfaces such as paper, panel, and recycled materials are permitted and may be toned prior to check-in. Artists may stamp an unlimited number of surfaces, but will submit up to two pieces for juroring, display, and sale.
- Juroring and Wet Paint Sale: Only stamped works can be shown or sold. All submitted pieces must be labeled with artist’s name, title, and price. All work on paper or canvases less than 1″ thick must be framed and properly wired (no saw tooth hangers). Watch a video on how to wire your work here. Gallery-wrapped canvasses thicker than 1″ and alternative sturdy surfaces do not need to be framed, but do need to be properly wired for hanging. The OCAC reserves the right to exclude works not properly prepared for display. The maximum size allowed is 24″ x 24″ including frame. 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.
- Liability: The artist is responsible for insurance of artwork. The OCAC/OCAA will make their best effort to assure the security of the artwork in the Eno Mill Gallery.
- Inclement Weather: The event will take place rain or shine, so please be prepared.
- Use of images: Artists agree to allow the OCAC use of images produced during the event.
MAP
SCHEDULE
- Wednesday, October 4: 8am-5pm
- Thursday, October 5: 8am-5pm
- Friday, October 6: 8am-12pm
LODGING
Visit www.visitchapelhill.org/hotels for options in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Visit www.visithillsboroughnc.com/places-to-stay for other options in Hillsborough. There’s also many options listed through Airbnb and VRBO.
FAQ's
A: Yes – we want anyone who wishes to participate to be able to! While we try to keep participation fees for Paint it Orange low, we don’t want financial barriers to prevent participation. When you register, you’ll find a “Pay What You Can” ticket and you’re welcome to donate any amount – whether that is $0 or $30. Please note Paint it Orange is a fundraiser for the Orange County Arts Alliance and all registration fees are used to support support its mission to expand the capacity of the Orange County Arts Commission, as together, they create, develop, and grow the arts of Orange County, North Carolina.
Q: Can I register on site?
A: Yes. You can register up until Friday morning either online with a credit card or with a check/cash. Just come by the OCAC office (437 Dimmocks Mill Rd., Suite 17, Hillsborough), and we’ll get you set up!
Q: Do I have to frame thick canvas?
A: If you choose to work on a gallery wrapped canvas that is at least 1″ thick, or other “sturdy” surfaces such as recycled metal and wood, you don’t need to frame the work. However, it does need to be wired for hanging – no sawtooth hangers! Finished edges are encouraged for all canvases, especially those thicker than 1″.
Q: Are surfaces other than canvas allowed?
A: Yes! You can use paper, cardboard, recycled materials… whatever you wish to use that can be properly wired for exhibiting.
Q: Are other mediums allowed?
A: Yes! Watercolor, pastel, charcoal, crayon… whatever you wish to use.
Q: I am a watercolorist using watercolor paper. Won’t the stamp show through the paper?
A: Potentially yes, so we’ll have our check-in volunteers lightly sign a corner of your paper indicating it was checked.
Q: I want to frame my work behind glass, but am worried that it might be wet. What do I do?
A: Our suggestion is to either frame your work without glass (especially if you’re working in oil!) or finish early enough to let your work dry before painting turn-in (1pm Friday).
Q: What are the funds raised by this event being used for?
A: Funds generated by the event will support the Orange County Arts Alliance (OCAA), a new nonprofit organization created by the Orange County Arts Commission to further support and nurture the creative community of Orange County. Funds raised by the OCAA will support programs such as grants, public art, and arts in education.
Other questions? Email us at kmurray (at) orangecountync (dot) gov.
PARTICIPATING ARTISTS
Gio Argentati– Raleigh, NC
Henry Arnette – Mebane, NC
Jim Babinchak – Fuquay-Varina, NC
Beth Barger – Apex, NC
Maya Barton – Chapel Hill, NC
Brigit Bishop – Tidewater, VA
Lily Braff – Fuquay-Varina, NC
Lisa Burke – Durham, NC
Nancy Carty – Raleigh, NC
Tilghman Castelli – Carrboro, NC
Belynda Chambers – Raleigh, NC
Lani Chaves – Pittsboro, NC
Lindsey Chester – Cary, NC
Sarah Claiborne – Oxford, NC
Marvin Cook – Wilson, NC
Kendall Criffield – Hillsborough, NC
Wesley Dalton – Hillsborough, NC
Earl Davis – Blowing Rock, NC
Maureen Dunlap – Durham, NC
Davis Erickson – Mebane, NC
Susan Eversole – Chapel Hill, NC
Sue Foell – Durham, NC
Karen Fortier – Virginia Beach, VA
Laine Francis – Burlington, NC
Andie Freeman – Apex, NC
Linda Gaines – Hillsborough, NC
Tonia Anne Gebhart – Lillington, NC
Mary Jo Gunning – Mooresville, NC
Bk Hart – Pittsboro, NC
Linda Hauser – Wake Forest, NC
Julia Illana – Durham, NC
Nathan Jacobsen – Durham, NC
Katherine Jennings – Chapel Hill, NC
Anouk Johanna – Chapel Hill, NC
Jackie Kennedy – Clayton, NC
Karen Kuhlmann – Durham, NC
Jane Lamm – Chapel Hill, NC
Maria LeFrancois – Raleigh, NC
Katherine March – Staunton, VA
Marcia McDade McMann – Cedar Grove, NC
Lindsay Mckelvey – Mebane, NC
Mark Miller – Carrboro, NC
Nancy Ann Moore – Chapel Hill, NC
Erin Morgan – Charlotte, NC
Kathy Murray – Cornelius, NC
Heather Nally – Hillsborough, NC
Brooke Newhart – Roxboro, NC
Kathryn Olive – Durham, NC
E Patton – Chapel Hill, NC
Susan Paulsen – Chapel Hill, NC
Bridget Pemberton-Smith – Chapel Hill, NC
Julian Phelps – Hillsborough, NC
Patricia Pittman – Durham, NC
Boots Quimby – Pittsboro, NC
Linda Reville – Gibsonville, NC
Jacqueline Rimmler – Cedar Grove, NC
Lyn Rollins – Greensboro, NC
Isolde Sarnecki – Raleigh, NC
Lynn Schmoock – Hillsborough, NC
Bryan Scott – Spring Lake, NC
Deborah Sherrod – Fuquay-Varina, NC
Nancy Smith – Hillsborough, NC
Kristin Smith – Mebane, NC
Olivia Stanwyck – Cedar Grove, NC
Clare Steece-Julich – Mebane, NC
Cindy Stiles – Cambria, CA
Carol Strickland – Efland, NC
Lyudmila Tomova Clark – Cary, NC
Audrey Trapolsi – Chapel Hill, NC
Mary Wangen – Pittsboro, NC
Emily Eve Weinstein – Chapel Hill, NC
Diff Whitmore – Hillsborough, NC
Barbara Younger – Hillsborough, NC
Kathryn Zarem – Chapel Hill, NC
Min Zhong – Raleigh, NC
REGISTER
Click here to register online.