2027 Mountain Maryland Plein Air

The Mountain Maryland Plein Air juried competition and exhibition will be presented and
managed by the Allegany Arts Council. The event, now in its 14th year, will feature our
refreshed downtown with paintings installed at the beautiful Allegany Museum.

This competitive event is a hallmark of the Western Maryland art scene. Located in the
Appalachian Mountains, the area is resplendent with magnificent vistas, pristine state forests
and historic architecture. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad adds to the small-town, turn-
of-the-century charm; and the C&O Canal, a working railroad yard, abandoned industrial sites,
farms, lakes and trout streams collectively provide something of interest for every artist.

Up to thirty artists will be invited to participate for awards totaling almost $14,000.

The Mountain Maryland Plein Air juried competition and exhibition will be presented and
managed by the Allegany Arts Council. The event, now in its 14th year, will feature our
refreshed downtown with paintings installed at the beautiful Allegany Museum.  
This competitive event is a hallmark of the Western Maryland art scene. Located in the
Appalachian Mountains, the area is resplendent with magnificent vistas, pristine state forests
and historic architecture. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad adds to the small-town, turn-
of-the-century charm; and the C&O Canal, a working railroad yard, abandoned industrial sites,
farms, lakes and trout streams collectively provide something of interest for every artist.
Up to thirty artists will be invited to participate for awards totaling almost $14,000. 

Entry Guidelines

Applicants should consider several factors before application to the competition, which include
the following:

Schedule
Event timeframe, June 13 – 19, 2027  (Sunday – Saturday)
*Registration and Check-in, Sunday, June 13, 1 pm -3 pm
*Welcome Event (evening) – Tuesday, June 15, 2027
*Collector’s Reception (evening) – Friday, June 18, 2027
*Quickdraw (morning) – Saturday, June 19, 2027
*Other events may be scheduled through the week, but artists are not required to attend.

Lodging

Artists are responsible for costs related to their lodging; however, we will do our best to obtain
host housing for any artist wishing to be housed with a local family. Host families will reside in
Allegany County, and host accommodations can be as far as a 20-minute drive from the gallery
space. Host accommodations vary in size and amenities and cannot be guaranteed. It is up to
the sole discretion of the sponsoring organization to make housing assignments.

Promotion

Selected artists will be required to provide a digital photo and 100 to 200-word bio which may be
used for promotion of the event. Artists are expected to comply with published deadlines for
submission of these materials.

Commission

The Allegany Arts Council will charge a 35% commission on artwork sold during the 14 th
Mountain Maryland Plein Air Competition & Exhibition, with all sales to be handled directly
through AAC. Artists are not permitted to arrange for private sale of their work during the event
– doing so may make an artist ineligible for future competitions. During the course of the event
program, artwork will be insured for 65% of its retail value.

Exhibition Information

Artists will check in for the event Sunday, June 13. On Friday, June 19, all paintings completed
through the week will be turned in and installed for the Collector’s Reception, which takes place
Friday evening. Artists will be free to collect their work no earlier than 3:00PM on Saturday,
June 20, 2027.

During painting time, the sponsoring organization will install an exhibition of selected artists’
previous work, which will be offered for sale. Further details will be provided to selected artists
after notification. The intent of this exhibition is to educate the community about each artist’s
style and body of work prior to the Collector’s event.

JUROR: Mick McAndrews

Mick's award-winning watercolors are celebrated for capturing the mood and atmosphere of a
scene, blending technical mastery with a deep reverence for composition and design. He is a
signature member of the Pennsylvania Watercolor Society (Sylvan Grouse Guild inductee), the
Philadelphia Watercolor Society (Crest Medal recipient), the Baltimore Watercolor Society, and
the Whiskey Painters of America.

"In all my work, I strive to simplify life's complexity into only the most important shapes, values, and edges. I enjoy painting outside, where I can take advantage of the surroundings, natural light, and the sights and sounds that influence each painter's creative nature. Outside, in nature's studio, I must capture the moment — because light and its effects, reflections, and cast shadows change continuously. I believe there is a partnership between the knowledge, technique, and skill of the painter, while leaving room for the magic that makes watercolor so distinctive."

Mick McAndrew's Significant Artistic Accomplishments

• Exhibited in the 148th and 159th Annual International Exhibitions of the American
  Watercolor Society
• Merit Award, 2026 American Watercolor Society Associate Member Exhibition
• Best Watercolor Award, 92nd National Juried Exhibition of the Hudson Valley Art
  Association
• Best in Show, 2023 Parrsboro International Plein Air Festival
• 3rd Prize, 2022 Plein Air Easton Competition
• 3rd Prize, 41st Annual Adirondack National Exhibition of American Watercolors
• Exhibited in the 13th and 17th Annual Signature American Watermedia International
  Exhibitions
• Exhibited in the 2018, 2021, and 2024 National Watercolor Society Member Exhibitions
• Exhibited in the 17th National Exhibition of the American Society of Marine Artists
• Demonstration artist and field painter, 2017 Plein Air Convention & Expo
• Featured in a published interview, Plein Air Magazine, June/July 2015

Deadline to enter: Sunday, January 10, 2027
Notification: Tuesday, January 19, 2027
2027 Plein Air Competition: June 13-19, 2027

CONTACT US:
https://www.alleganyartscouncil.org/pleinair
301.777.2787
mountain_maryland_plein_air@alleganyarts.org

How to Apply

Applicants should apply through CAFÉ www.callforentry.org (note you may see a web transition
to Creative West.) The call may be found using “2027 Mountain Maryland Plein Air”. No entries
sent directly to the sponsoring organization will be accepted. If an applicant has not previously
applied to a call through CAFÉ, it will be necessary to set up a login prior to application.

Media Preparation

Please only submit properly cropped images of your work that are in focus.

CaFÉ offers tips on their blog which you can find here www.callforentry.org/photographing-artwork/.

All images must be in JPEG/JPG format using CaFÉ guidelines. The image size must be 1,200 pixels or greater on the longest side. Maximum file size is 5 Mb.

The entry fee for this competition is $40.00 and includes submission of three (3) digital images
which should broadly represent the applicant’s plein air body of work. Applicants will include an
artist statement, required by the CAFÉ system.

The deadline to enter is January 10, 2027.