8th Annual Paint it Orange Plein Air Paint-out & Wet Paint Sale

Lynn Mehta, an award-winning artist based in Virginia, is recognized for her rich oil paintings, characterized by a generous use of juicy paint and harmonious color. Her art is a reflection of her connection to the ever-changing visual world around. She blends abstract shapes and forms inspired by a wide range of landscapes and elements. Her paintings are impressionistic, emphasizing the color of light and the overall impression of the scene. It is important for Mehta to create a painting that is interesting up close and further away.

Growing up along the Pacific Ocean, Mehta has been an artist as long as she can remember and was inspired by the work of her mother who painted outside. Mehta earned her B.A. in Art from San Diego State University, and has studied with an impressive list of  acclaimed artists in the US and abroad.

A distinguished member in a host of organizations, Mehta holds Signature Membership Status in the American Impressionist Society, the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association, and the American Society of Marine Artists. Her broad membership includes the Salmagundi Club in New York City, the Washington Society of Landscape Painters, and Oil Painters of America.

Mehta’s artwork graces galleries, private and public collections, books, and magazines worldwide. Museums and public collectors include the Maryhill Museum of Art in Washington, the National Institutes of Health, and Acadia National Park Artists-in-Residency.

She will be teaching a Plein-Air Workshop at the Eno Arts Mill on October 3rd & 4th – Register here!

1st Place: $750.00
2nd Place: $500.00
3rd Place: $250.00
People’s Choice: $100.00 People’s Choice voting will be open throughout the exhibit through November.

• The first 70 artists to register will receive a complimentary artist goodie bag from Jerry’s Artarama!
• Painting Period: Artists may register for either the early/weekend schedule (September 27-29) or the regular/weekday schedule (October 2-4), not both.
• 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 Arts 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.
• 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.
  • All work must be for sale. OCAC staff or Paint it Orange committee members cannot offer pricing guidance. Refer to this helpful guide for guidance on pricing your work. “Name your price” or bidding offers are not allowed.
  • Artwork will remain on display and for sale through November 30.
• Proceeds and Payments: For all work sold, the Orange County Arts Alliance will retain a 40% commission. Artist payments for work sold are handled electronically through Melio (a secure online payments processor for Quickbooks). Artists will receive an emailed Statement of Sales from the Director, followed by an email from Melio asking how they wish to be paid, either through Electronic Funds Transfer to a bank account, or through a mailed check. The OCAA has 30 days from the exhibit closing date to initiate payments.
• Unsold Artwork: Artists may donate unsold artwork, pick up their work Monday, December 2, between 9am-7pm, or have artwork mailed at their own expense. After January 31, 2025, remaining work will become property of the OCAC.
• Liability: The Eno Arts Mill is partnership of Orange County and the Orange County Arts Alliance (OCAA), a 501c3 organization. As an exhibitor in the Eno Arts Mill Gallery, your artwork is insured by the OCAA in the event of damage or theft. However, the County accepts no responsibility for property exhibited in the Gallery and by exhibiting in the gallery, you agree to hold harmless Orange County and its agents, employees, officers, and volunteers.
• Inclement Weather: The event will take place rain or shine, so please be prepared.
• Use of images: Artists shall retain all rights to reproduction of work. Sale of the material object does not constitute transfer of the Artist’s copyrights; however, artists agree to allow the OCAC use of images produced during the event for promotional purposes.
  

A printed map will provided to you in your artist bag; you can also access our Orange County Plein Air Sites Google Map here!

Artist Check-in: All artists must check-in to get their surfaces stamped before painting.  The check-in location is the Orange County Arts Commission office/Eno Mill Gallery: 437 Dimmocks Mill Rd., Suite 17 | Hillsborough, NC 27278.

• Painting Sessions 
  • NEW THIS YEAR! Early (weekend) Session:
    • Check-in: Friday, Sept 27, 3-7pm
    • Check-in: Sat. Sept 28, 8am-5pm
    • Check-in: Sun. Sept 29, 8am
    • Painting turn-in: Sun. Sept 29, by 5pm
  • Regular paint-out:
    • Check-in: Wed. Oct 2, 8am-5pm
    • Check-in: Thurs., Oct 3, 8am-5pm
    • Check-in: Friday, Oct. 4, 8am
    • Painting turn-in: Friday Oct 4 by 12:30pm

Harvest Moon Party: Wednesday, October 2, 6-9pm. Enjoy dinner, drinks, and live music at The Barn at Union Grove Farm! This event is free for all artists and 1 guest.

Workshop: Thursday, Oct. 3 & 4 from 9:30am – 3:30pm | Register here

Painting Turn-in: Turn-in times are listed above. Please note, all paintings must be received by the deadline – no exceptions.

Awards & Preview Party: Friday, October 4 | 5-6pm at the Eno Mill Gallery

Wet Paint Sale: Begins at 6pm on Friday, October 4 following Awards and Preview Party, as part of First Fridays at the Mill featuring food trucks, open studios, kids’ activities and live music with Jesse Fox. 

Exhibit Dates: Friday, October 4th through Saturday, November 30th.

Your hotel stay in Orange County helps fund the arts commission! Many hotel and Bed & Breakfast options are available and we encourage you to support our local Orange County lodging options. Our official hotel for Paint it Orange is the beautiful Colonial Inn in Downtown Hillsborough. Call the inn at 984-789-4455 and mention Paint it Orange for a 20% discount! 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.

Q: I want to paint but can’t afford the fee. Can I still participate?
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 the very last minute either online with a credit card or in person with a credit card or 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: Can my surface be primed/toned?
A: Yes.
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.
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 camp scholarships, our LGBTQIA+ Teen Arts Collective, and our BIPOC Artist in Residence Program.
Other questions? Email us at kmurray (at) orangecountync (dot) gov.

Continually updated!

Emily Anderson – Chapel Hill, NC
Beth Barger – Apex, NC
Maya Barton – Chapel Hill, NC
Kelly Blades – Wendell, NC
Karl Bostwick – Clemmons, NC
SM Botstein – Chapel Hill, NC
Sheila Brooks – Burlington, NC
Rachel Brown – Siler City, NC
Lisa Burke – Durham, NC
Ellen Cabacungan – Chapel Hill, NC
Susan Campbell – Carrboro, NC
Kyle Camu – Raleigh, NC
Ryann Carey – Hillsborough, NC
Amber Cauley – Richlands, NC
Jean Cerasani – Graham, NC
Lindsey Chester – Cary, NC
Jacqueline Clary – Durham, NC
Priscilla Ching – Chapel Hill, NC
Amber Conrad – Durham, NC
Soonja Cook – Durham, NC
Wesley Dalton – Hillsborough, NC
Peter Danial – Raleigh, NC
Earl Davis – Boone, NC
Karon Davis – Chapel Hill, NC
Tony Dowling – Efland, NC
Jennifer Drolet – Carrboro, NC
Jane Eckenrode – Pittsboro, NC
Amy Elmore – Chapel Hill, NC
Natalia Kiseleva Favorsky – Chapel Hill, NC
Andie Freeman – Apex, NC
Libby Fosso – Chapel Hill, NC
Joseph Garrett – Hillsborough, NC
Kenny Glenn – Rougemont, NC
David Graham – Hillsborough, NC
Mary Jo Gunning – Mooresville, NC
Justin Holdren – Snow Camp, NC
Sarah Holstein – Chapel Hill, NC
R Scott Horner – Chapel Hill, NC
Vinita Jain – Raleigh, NC
Katherine Jennings – Chapel Hill, NC
J.Christine Johnsen – Raleigh, NC
Sia Karamalegos – Durham, NC
James Keul – Durham, NC
Willow Krotchko – Apex, NC
Karen Kuhlmann – Durham, NC
Mary Lamb – Chapel Hill, NC
Elizabeth Lanier – Reidsville, NC
Carroll Lassiter – Chapel Hill, NC
Scott Lawson – Durham, NC
Ann M Lawtey – Chapel Hill, NC
Maria LeFrancois – Raleigh, NC
Nerys Levy – Chapel Hill, NC
Gregory Mack – Hillsborough, NC
Katharine March – Staunton, VA
Sue Marchman – Chapel Hill, NC
Patricia Martin – Pittsboro, NC
Melissa McCullough – Chapel Hill, NC
Marcia McDade McMann – Cedar Grove, NC
Lindsay McKelvey – Mebane, NC
Mark Miller – Carrboro, NC
Erin Morgan – Mebane, NC
Margret Mueller – Mebane, NC
Joyeeta Neogi – Morrisville, NC
Brooke Newhart – Roxboro, NC
Jennifer Niemiroski – Hillsborough, NC
Laura Oleniacz – Durham, NC
Tesh Parekh – Raleigh, NC
E Patton – Hillsborough, NC
Britni Patterson – Durham, NC
Susan Paulsen – Chapel Hill, NC
Bridget Pemberton-Smith – Chapel Hill, NC
Mary Pham – Durham, NC
Julian Phelps – Hillsborough, NC
Robert Quist – Bolivia, NC
Jacqueline Rimmler – Cedar Grove, NC
Micayla Rose – Haw River, NC
Shirley Ruff – Hillsborough, NC
Jennie Traill Schaeffer – Durham, NC
Audrey Trapolsi – Chapel Hill, NC
Ben Scofield – Durham, NC
Kate Shepherd – Raleigh, NC
Ted Smith – Sunset Beach, NC
Nancy Smith – Carrboro, NC
Polly Smith – Chapel Hill, NC
Carol Strickland – Efland, NC
Mollie Thomas – Hillsborough, NC
Taylor Turner – Pfafftown, NC
Emily Eve Weinstein – Chapel Hill, NC
Dorothy Whitmore – Hillsborough, NC
Grace Witsil – Chapel Hill, NC

Registration fee is $25 before September 1, $30 as of September 1. We also have a “pay what you can” option. Online payments are subject to a small processing fee. Click here to register!

Paint it Orange is a perfect way to support the local arts community and have your business participate in a fun event! All sponsors above $200 will receive an invitation to the Harvest Moon Party on Wednesday, October 2, and the Awards Reception & Preview Party on Friday, October 4, 5-6pm, giving you the first opportunity to view this year’s work. Click here for more information and email kmurray (at) orangecountync (dot) gov with questions.

Orange County’s farms and rural sites have always been a draw for Paint it Orange artists, but unlike in busy downtown areas, artists are sometimes unsure of where they are welcomed in our rural community. By registering your property, you will help us create a list of rural sites, list them on our maps, and allow us to display “Paint Here” sign(s) at your property.

For more info and registration, visit www.artsorange.org/piofarms.