Now in its fourth year, RiverArts’ Paint the Town will take place Thursday, April 25 through Sunday, April 28. Artists are now registering for the event and, happily, many of the most popular of them are returning this year along with new talent coming from areas throughout the mid-Atlantic and New England states.
Mary Pritchard, a popular local pastel artist who organized the first Paint the Town event, explains what is special about Chestertown’s plein air weekend: “ …Many professional landscape painters participate in a kind of national plein air “circuit” in which prize money and sales draw hundreds of artist entries as the events have become increasingly competitive. The Chestertown event was developed on a more low-key basis… where artists enjoy painting together in a beautiful environment, with local artists sharing their knowledge of favorite painting locations and experienced plein air painters sharing practical advice with novices…”
Paint the Town has become a popular event among many visitors and artists because they love Chestertown. According to Karen Cashman, returning artist, Chestertown has something for everyone – harbor areas on the river, historic houses, gardens, farmers’ market, charming street scenes and farms with distant views”. Award-winning artist, Dennis Young, is also returning this year. He “particularly enjoys the residents and the curious stopping by to share the view and a story or two. It’s nearly impossible to come away from this event in Chestertown without feeling welcomed as family.”
The weekend offers visitors the opportunity to see Chestertown through these artists’ eyes. There will be a “Wet Paint” exhibition and sale, 5-7pm on Saturday evening, April 27 at the RiverArts Gallery. A “Quick Draw” on Sunday, April, 28 will provide the chance to buy paintings done that morning. Prizes are awarded at both events. The “Quick Draw” paintings will be exhibited in Fountain Park next to another special weekend festivity, the annual Taste of the Town.
For more information on Paint the Town go to chestertownriverarts.org. For more information on other activities going on in town go to www.kentcounty.com/artsentertainment.
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