2026 Arts Mount Holly Plein Air Paint Out and Juired Wet Paint Show

The 2026 Arts Mount Holly Plein Air Paint Out invites adult and student artists to three days of outdoor painting, fellowship, and friendly competition. Paint across our scenic town, meet fellow artists, and compete for more than $2,000 in awards including Student awards Reception and Wet Paint Sale on Saturday. 

Adult Cash Prizes:

Best of Show $1,000

2nd $500.00 

3rd $350

The 2026 Arts Mount Holly Plein Air Paint Out invites artists of all experience levels to join us for three inspiring days of outdoor painting in beautiful Mount Holly, North Carolina. From September 17–19, artists will capture the charm, character, and natural beauty of our community while enjoying fellowship, friendly competition, and opportunities to connect with fellow creatives.

This annual event welcomes adult artists as well as middle and high school students, each with their own award categories. More than $2,000 in cash prizes will be presented:

Adult Division:

$1,000 Best of Show

$500 2nd 

$350 3rd 

plus student cash prizes 

Artists will paint throughout Mount Holly Thursday through Saturday, with all completed works delivered for judging on Saturday afternoon. A public Wet Paint Sale will follow the awards ceremony, giving artists the chance to share and sell their freshly created work.

The weekend also includes a Friday evening Artist Mixer at the Holland Wine Bar, offering a relaxed opportunity to meet other participants, build community, and enjoy conversation after a day of painting from 5 to 7pm. On Saturday, artists and guests will gather at First Baptist Church,  300 South Main Street Mount Holly, NC for the reception, awards presentation, and Wet Paint Sale.

All artists must begin the event by having their blank canvases and surfaces stamped at Arts on the Greenway on Thursday morning before painting begins. To help us promote participating artists, we request a headshot, brief bio, and social media handles in the application process.

We look forward to welcoming you to Mount Holly for a creative, energizing, and memorable plein air experience.

To participate in the 2026 Arts Mount Holly Plein Air Paint Out, artists must submit a completed application through CaFÉ along with the following:

• Completed Online Application

All adult artists must register through CaFÉ and provide accurate contact information.

• Registration Fee: $35

Payment is required at the time of application. Applications are not considered complete until payment is received.

Student Registration Requirement - Middle and high school students must register through their school to participate in the Student Division of the Plein Air Paint Out. Schools will coordinate student registration, canvas stamping, and delivery of completed artwork.

Artist Information:

As part of completing your CaFÉ application, please provide the following materials:

• One headshot

A clear photo of yourself for promotional use.

• One example image of your artwork

This should represent your current artistic style. It does not need to be a plein air piece.

• A brief artist bio

3–5 sentences describing your background, artistic experience, and creative focus.

• Social media handle(s)

Any Instagram, Facebook, or website links you would like us to share.

These materials help us promote participating artists leading up to the event.

This information will be used for event promotion.

• Eligibility
  • Adult Division: Open to artists 18 and older.
  • Student Division: Open to middle school and high school students.

Middle and high school will be judged separately, with separate awards.

• Canvas Stamping Requirement

All participating artists must bring their blank canvases to Arts on the Greenway on Thursday morning, September 17, to be stamped before painting begins. Only stamped surfaces will be eligible for judging.

• Artwork Submission

Completed works must be delivered to First Baptist Church Mount Holly – Fellowship Hall by 1:00 PM on Saturday, September 19 for judging. Late submissions cannot be accepted.

• Original Work Requirement

All artwork must be created on-site in Mount Holly during the event dates. No studio work or previously completed pieces will be accepted.

• Wet Paint Sale Participation and reception 4:30-6:00 pm Saturday

Artists are encouraged to participate in the public Wet Paint Sale following the awards ceremony. Pricing is at the discretion of the artist.

Wet Paint Sale Commission

All Wet Paint Sale transactions are subject to a 10% commission payable to Arts Mount Holly, a committee of the Mount Holly Community Development Foundation. This commission supports future arts programming and community events.

The 2026 Arts Mount Holly Plein Air Paint Out is open to adult artists and to middle and high school students, with each student group judged separately in its own award category.

All participating artists must create original plein air work on‑site in Mount Holly, North Carolina, during the event dates (September 17–19, 2026). 

Required Artis Check in at Arts on the Greenway 500 East Central Ave, Mount Holly, NC 28120. Check in times:  Thursday 9/17 to Saturday 9/19 8am to 10am.  You are not required to check in daily, only if you need more surfaces stamped.

Only artwork produced on surfaces stamped at check‑in on Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings between 8am and 10am will be eligible for judging. Previously completed work, studio work, reproductions, or AI‑generated artwork are not permitted.

Adult Division eligibility requires artists to be 18 years of age or older. Student Division eligibility requires artists to be currently enrolled in middle school or high school during the 2026–2027 academic year.

Artists must be able to deliver completed artwork to the designated drop‑off location by the stated deadline and must be present or represented at pick‑up following the Wet Paint Sale.

Wet Paint Sale Commission

All Wet Paint Sale transactions are subject to a 10% commission payable to Arts Mount Holly, a committee of the Mount Holly Community Development Foundation. This commission supports future arts programming and community events.

Participation in the event signifies acceptance of all eligibility requirements.