10th Annual Paint it Orange Plein Air Paint-out & Wet Paint Sale

Lori Putnam OPAM, is celebrated for her fresh and engaging paintings. Putnam’s works in today’s new impressionist style illustrate nature’s intrinsic beauty and light.

Having traveled to paint, research, lecture, and teach in over 30 countries, she believes exposure to other lives and geographic locations has been her greatest teacher. 

Rather than relying on photographs, the artist works from her notes and sketches back home in her Tennessee studio. There, she paints large-scale pieces, often combining multiple studies in her creative process. 

Putnam is a Signature Member of the California Art Club, American Impressionist Society, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, and American Women Artists, and is a Master Signature Member in the Oil Painters of America and International Plein Air Painters. In 2021 won both the $15,000 Grand Prize and the People’s Choice Awards from Annual Plein air Salon.

1st Place: $1,000.00
2nd Place: $750.00
3rd Place: $500.00
People’s Choice: $250.00 People’s Choice voting will be open throughout the exhibit through November 21st.

• The first 70 artists to register will receive a complimentary artist goodie bag provided by Jerry’s Artarama
• Painting Period:
  • Weekend session: Friday, September 25 – Sunday, September 27 (paintings due by 5pm Sunday)
  • Weekday session: Wednesday, September 30 – Friday, October 2 (paintings due by 12:30pm Friday)
  • Registration is required. REGISTER HERE
  • Participants must pick between the weekend and weekday sessions. Participants cannot choose 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 Eno Arts Mill in Hillsborough (437 Dimmocks Mill Rd, Ste 17). 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 only one piece for jury, display, and sale.
• Wet Paint Sale:
  • Only stamped works can be shown or sold.
  • All submitted pieces (only 1 per artist this year) must be labeled with artist’s name, title, and price AND a completed electronic submission form.
  • 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.
  • Artwork will remain on display through Saturday, November 21st.
• 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 and 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 will pick up their work Monday, November 23 (12-7PM) and Tuesday, November 24 (12-6PM).
• 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.

Click here to view the Google Map for suggested painting sites. A printed map will be available at Artist Check-in. 

• Workshop:  Paint it Orange Plein Air Workshop with juror Lori Putnam Monday, September 28 & Tuesday, September 29 | 9 AM – 4 PM each day (Sold out!)
• Artist Check-in and Painting Timeline: All artists must check-in to get their surfaces stamped before painting.
  • WEEKEND SESSION:
    • Check-in: Fri. Sep 25, 3pm-7pm
    • Check-in: Sat. Sep 26, 8am-5pm
    • Check-in: Sun. Sep 27, 8am – 5pm
  • WEEKDAY SESSION:
    • Check-in: Wed. Sep 30, 8am-5pm
    • Check-in: Thurs. Oct 01, 8am-5pm
    • Check-in: Fri. Oct 02, 8am-10am
• Painting Turn-in: Please note, all paintings must be received by the deadline – no exceptions.
  • WEEKEND SESSION: No later than 5:00pm on Sunday, September 27th.
  • WEEKDAY SESSION: No later than 12:30pm on Friday, October 2nd.
• Harvest Moon Party: Wednesday, September 30 at 6pm. Enjoy dinner, drinks, and live music at RambleRill Farm: 913 Arthur Minnis Rd, Hillsborough. All registered artists receive a complimentary ticket (registration required); additional tickets for artists’ guests can be purchased here.
• Artists’ Meet-up: Thursday, October 1 anytime after 6pm at Eno River Brewing. Get to know other artists while enjoying award-winning brews and a local food truck. The brewery will be open to the public, so be sure to wear your PIO lanyard!
• Opening events on Friday, October 2:
  • Awards and Preview Party for sponsors and artists: 5-6pm
  • Wet Paint Sale: 6-9pm. Enjoy live music, food trucks, open artist studios, and more
  • Exhibit Dates: Friday, October 2nd through Saturday, November 21st

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. Visit www.visitchapelhill.org/hotels for options in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Visit www.visithillsboroughnc.com/places-to-stay for  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 $35. 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: 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 must 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 in.
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), the nonprofit partner of the Orange County Arts Commission created to further support and nurture the creative community of Orange County. 
Other questions? Email us at kmurray (at) orangecountync (dot) gov.

Check back to see this year’s participating artists!

Registration fee is $30 before September 1, $35 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 $250 will receive an invitation to the Harvest Moon Party on Wednesday, September 30, and the Awards Reception & Preview Party on Friday, October 2, 5-6pm, giving you the first opportunity to view this year’s work. Click here for more information about sponsoring 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 to register your site, visit www.artsorange.org/piofarms.