Artists Descend on Main Street for Open-Air Painting Competition

If you're passing through Ellicott City this weekend, don't forget to check out the "pleinters"—that is plein air painters—the artists who are competing in a juried open-air painting contest.

On Friday afternoon, about 20 professional and amateur painters were scattered about Main Street, with umbrellas unfolded, painting different scenes.

Sid Branham had two umbrellas out at his location just past the CSX train bridge. As he touched up parts of the bridge on his canvas.

"The trick is to keep everything dry," said Branham. "I've never painted in anything like this kind of downpour."

Under the train bridge was Janet Arsenault, of Frederick, who was just beginning a painting of the bridge over the Patapsco River. Her paper was slightly curling up from the humidity.

Despite this, she was positive, "It's not hot like it was last year."

Cheryl Himelright, of Mt. Airy, just retired from teaching and was convinced by her friend, Arsenault, to participate in the event. She said the rain and humidity was causing the paint to take longer to dry as she held up her forearms, which had rubbed the wet paint. She was taking cover in an alcove between the entrances to two buildings.

Linda Newton, a retired Howard County teacher who lives in Ellicott City, had to move from a spot near the train station to one across the street in a doorway.

She said the cloudy sky and rain makes scenes look flat, because there's no high contrast from sunlight, but she made the best out of it by focusing on granite bricks and a detailed window of the train station.

Up the road, near Wilhide's flower shop, Lida Stifel was painting lower Main Street.

"One of the best paintings I've done was in the rain in Wayne, Pennsylvania," said Stifel. She said she composed it after finding shelter in an old train station.

She said she picked her spot to compose a "wet street scene," and based on the looks of things it was coming together nicely.

Back under the CSX bridge, across from Arsenault, Bruno Baran, of Nottingham, was working in a tight space on the sidewalk. Every now and then he'd step about five feet back to examine his progress.

"I try to capture the feeling, the moment," said Baran. "I try and paint it in the fewest strokes as possible."

His painting gave Main Street a surreal effect, with the buildings leaning toward each other, and rain glistening on the street.

If you want to check out the painters, they'll be out all weekend on Main Street.

Afterwards, on July 14 and 15 the paintings by juried artists will be judged and an award ceremony will take place. Community artists and amateur painters are also painting in the event.

Schedule:

•  July 12, 13, 14 - painting all day throughout Historic Ellicott City
• July 14 - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Painting preview at Sunday Market in parking lot D
• July 15, 6-8 p.m. - Gallery reception and award presentation at Howard County Center for the Arts (8510 High Ridge Road, Ellicott City)