PLEIN AIR
CHAMBERSBURG
2024
September 7th
7:30-8:30 Registration
8:30-12:30 Competition
12:30-1:30 Lunch & Prep
1:30-2:30 Judging at Chambers Fort Park
2:30-3:30 Award Ceremony, Reception, Exhibit & Sale
Schedule: (more info below)
Our judge this year is Julie Riker
Pennsylvania artist Julie Riker studied Illustration at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. After graduating she became involved in the historic restoration of the PA State Capitol, replicating original decorative painting, stenciling and applying gold leaf and ornamental plaster finishes. In 1996 Julie started her own decorative painting business creating artwork for individual homes and businesses. Working out of her Camp Hill studio she specializes in custom art, decorative painting, murals and faux finishes for walls and furniture. She has travelled from New York to Florida for commissioned projects, and has even created and painted wall finishes for the PA Governor’s residence in 2002.
When not working for a client, Julie enjoys painting outdoors. Often these plein air paintings serve as inspiration for larger studio pieces, but some stand on their own as observations of the beauty and variety of nature. She has participated in many national plein air events and won several awards. Recent accomplishments are First Place at Paint Annapolis, Artist’s Choice Award at Paint Snow Hill, People’s Choice Award for Quick Draw at Finger Lakes Plein Air, Plein Air Magazine Award at the Wayne Plein Air Festival, Plein Air Salon Finalist, and Feature Artist juried into Plein Air Easton.
Julie’s paintings have been published in Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine and she is profiled in an article in the Feb/March 2018 issue of Plein Air Magazine. Southwest Art Magazine has recognized Julie as an “Artist To Watch” in their October 2018 issue.
Painting at
Plein Air Chambersburg.
September 9, 2023 was an exciting day in downtown Chambersburg.
After months of planning the first Plein Air Chambersburg event dawned with beautiful light fluffy clouds.
46 artists from throughout our region arrived downtown early in the morning ready to paint.
We greeted them in Founding Fathers Park with coffee, maps and a grab-and-go breakfast.
Soon they were set up and working at sites all throughout the 4 block area surrounding the Square.
Downtown Chambersburg is unique in having an amazing variety of unusual and dynamic sites to paint, from our streams, waterfall and waterwheel; to the Farmer’s Market and attractive storefronts, the central Square with historic courthouse, fountain, Central Presbyterian church’s tall steeple and the 2 stately banks that now house the Franklin County Visitor’s Bureau and Heritage Center; a shady historic cemetery at Falling Springs Church and even a Japanese Garden, housed at the Old Jail.
We are looking forward to seeing you this year
on September 7th 2024
Video by
FAQs
General Information
All artists 14 and up are eligible to register for the Plein Air Chambersburg Quick Draw Competition and Exhibit. Application constitutes agreement that images may be used for web and print promotional purposes.
Quick Draw Event
Applicants must register with the Foundry Art Market and pay the registration fee in person or click on the registration button above. Event will be held rain or shine; no refunds will be made due to inclement weather, but indoor subjects will be available.
First 20 to register & attend will receive a free Foundry Artist’s Apron.
Artists should plan to bring their own easel and all equipment needed. Artists are welcome to explore the area and plan their work in advance, but must begin with blank canvas/paper, stamped at check-in. Artists will have 4 hours to create their plein air art piece/s and return to the registration area with their work and their easel, and one hour to prepare for display and judging.
Plein Air Definition
All artwork must be completed “en Plein Air,” meaning in the open air, working directly from the landscape or scene as it appears at that moment, without the aid of photographs during painting or more than a few marks afterwards. In case of inclement weather, indoor painting areas and subjects will be provided.
Surface Stamping
Artists must have all surfaces stamped prior to using them in the competition. At the time of stamping, the surfaces must be blank or primed with a single color. All artwork submitted to the Quick Draw Competition and Exhibit must bear the “Plein Air Chambersburg 2023” ink stamp on the reverse in plain view at the time of acceptance. Volunteers will be available to stamp surfaces at the registration table.
Media
Any medium used to create 2-dimensional art such as oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastel, colored pencil, graphite, charcoal or collage are permissible. No photography or digital art. Other 2-d materials and mediums may be acceptable with permission of the Plein Air Chambersburg Planning Committee.
Subject Matter
Subject Matter is anything observed while standing within the Plein Air Chambersburg Quick Draw Area, as designated on the attached map. Artists may work inside the Council for the Arts in case of inclement weather using, still life and floral subjects provided by Plein Air Chambersburg or 3-D objects brought by the artist.
New to
Plein Air
Festivals?
Click on Map to open printable pdf
Early bird registration through August 25th
Adults - $35
Teens (14-18) - $5
Registration fee August 26-September 7
Adults - $40
Teens (14-18) - $10
Fees are non-refundable, and include a lunch voucher and grab-and-go breakfast.
Saturday September 9
7:30-8:30
Sign-in, surface stamping and same-day registration at Chambers Fort Park, located beside 33 North Main Street, Chambersburg.
(Rainsite: Council for the Arts, 103 North Main Street)
8:30-12:30
Quick Draw Competition, with artists painting within 2 blocks of Chambers Fort Park: map provided. Artists return to Chambers Fort Park by 12:30 with completed artwork and easel for judging and display.
12:30-1:30
Lunch and prep time: artists bring work and easel for display to Chambers Fort Park. Artwork must be finished and ready for hanging! Artwork must be labeled with the tag provided at check-in
(Rain site, workspace, restrooms available at Council for the Arts).
1:30-2:30
Judging at Chambers Fort Park.
(Rain site: Council for the Arts)
2:30-3:30
Award Ceremony, Reception, Exhibit and Sale at Chambers Fort Park.
(Rain site: Council for the Arts)
Disclaimer
None of the involved groups (Downtown Chambersburg, Inc., the Foundry Art Market, Plein Air Chambersburg, Franklin County Art Alliance, Franklin County Historical Society, Presbyterian Church of Falling Spring and Tower at Falling Spring) are responsible for personal injury and illness or damage/loss/theft of artwork that may happen during this event. Artists must provide their own insurance if desired. In addition, artists are responsible for their personal safety during the event. Artists under 18 should be accompanied by a parent or teacher. Registering for the event constitutes the artist’s agreement with all rules and statements made here.
NO RAINDATE
If inclement weather:
Council for the Arts,
103 North Main Street
(Call 717-816-7568 if weather is questionable)
Sale of Artwork
Plein Air Chambersburg encourages all artists to offer their work for sale. A 30% commission will benefit the Foundry Art Market, through its parent organization Downtown Chambersburg, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Artists will receive 70% of the amount paid for their artwork. The Foundry is responsible for payment of PA sales tax.
Awards
Adult Student
1st $500 1st $25 gift card
2nd $200 2nd $25 gift card
3rd $100 3rd $25 gift card
4th & 5th $50 4th $25 gift card
Plus numerous honorable mention ribbons
The 2024 Chambersburg Plein Air Committee
is not eligible for awards.
This project is
supported by:
Support the Arts & our downtown in Chambersburg by becoming a sponsor of this yearly event