Prospectus
2nd Annual Bucks County Plein Air Festival
June 5 – 11, 2017
Join us for a week of plein air painting in verdant and historic Bucks County! Paint the rolling landscapes, lakes and rivers, covered bridges, stone farm houses, and historic estates that have inspired artists for more than a century. Jointly hosted by Bucks County Community College, the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce and Alan Fetterman Fine Arts, proceeds will support art scholarships and arts programing in Bucks County.
$15,000 in Awards
Best of Show $5,000 and Alan Fetterman Fine Arts Medal
2nd Prize $3,000
3rd Prize $1,500
Bucks County Resident Artist Prize $1,000
People’s Choice Award $500
5 Honorable Mention Awards $500 each
Quick Draw Prizes totaling $1500
Eligibility
The Bucks County Plein Air competition is open to all painters age 18 and older. All entrants will be juried, and the total number of participants will be limited to 50. At least 10 participating artists will be residents of Bucks County, PA.
Submission Requirements
Entries must be submitted electronically, along with a non-refundable application fee of $50.
Artists must submit three (3) digital images of plein air paintings made within the past two years. Images must be JPEG format at 300 ppi and sized from 1900 to 4000 pixels on the longest dimension. Refer to the Help menu on the Juried Art Services site.
An artist biography (up to 1000 characters) and photo (jpg – at least 6” and 300 ppi) is required.
Deadline for entries is March 8, 11:59 p.m. EDT
Important Dates
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March 8
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Online application deadline
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March 22
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All competing Artists notified by email
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March 31
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Selected Festival Artists confirm their participation
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April 17
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Guest housing assignments completed
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April 21
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Names of Festival Artists posted at www.BucksCountyPleinAir.org
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June 5
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Artist registration, orientation, canvas stamping and welcome lunch
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June 5-8
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Artists paint in Bucks County
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June 9
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Artist reception and award ceremony, collectors’ preview and gala
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June 10-11
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Quick Draw competition, exhibition and sale, all open to the public
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June 11
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Artists check-out at 4 PM
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Competition and Sales
All work must be original and painted en plein air during the Festival. Acceptable media are oil, acrylic, watercolor and pastels.
Paintings may not exceed 30 inches in any dimension, including frame. All exhibited artworks must be stamped, framed and wired, and available for sale.
Artists must submit two (2) finished pieces for prize judging. Artists may submit additional pieces for exhibit and sale.
BCPA will retain 40% commission of the sale price. All works commissioned during the Festival week will be treated as sales. Payments to the artists for sold work will be mailed 30 days after the event. All artists must submit a completed W-9 form at time of artist check in.
Artist check-out 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Winner of Best of Show will be exempt from jury process for the 2018 Festival.
Award Ceremony and Gala
All artists will receive free admission to the award ceremony and gala on Friday, June 9. Tickets for artists’ guests are $125 each.
Housing
Every effort will be made to provide host housing. Artists wishing to apply for host housing should make their request know upon submission of the Agreement to Participate. Host housing is available on a first come first served basis and is only for participating artists. Family members are not able to be accommodated. Additional housing may be made available at a reduced rate at local motels.
Jurors
Andy Evansen, Board President, Plein-Air Painters of America
Andy Evansen began painting as a change from the detailed digital images he created as a medical illustrator. His work gained recognition after winning an international watercolor competition through American Artist magazine, appearing on their cover in 2005. He’s been featured in numerous other publications since, and has become a sought-after workshop instructor who paints and teaches internationally. He served as President of the Minnesota Watercolor Society from 2004-2006, and after being elected a signature member of the prestigious Plein Air Painters of America (PAPA) in 2012 is now serving as their President. His paintings have won numerous awards and he was a featured presenter at the 2014 and 2016 Plein Air Convention and Expo. In November of 2015, he traveled to China with Joseph Zbukvic, Alvaro Castagnet, John Salminen, Konstantin Sterkhov and Stanislaw Zoladz for the 3rd International Watercolor Masters Exhibition. Andy recently opened his own studio gallery, Evansen Art Studio, in Hastings, MN. You can also view his work at www.EvansenArtStudio.com.
Alan Fetterman, Bucks County Plein Air Artist
A highly recognized and award-winning American artist, Alan Fetterman produces work sought and collected for continuing the Pennsylvania and Bucks County impressionist and plein air traditions. As a Kay scholar and graduate of University of Pennsylvania and Bucks County Community College, Alan transfers knowledge into art. He carries a personal and endearing connection to the rolling landscapes of Pennsylvania, especially those of Bucks County, where he lives. He's a long-standing, distinguished member of the Philadelphia Sketch Club and a past member of New York City's Salmagundi Club. His work and life have been profiled in dozens of magazines, columns, and books.
Lisa Tremper Hanover, Director & CEO, James A. Michener Art Museum
Lisa Tremper Hanover was named Director and CEO of the James A. Michener Art Museum in March 2012 after a successful tenure as Director of the Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art at Ursinus College. Since then she has overseen the transformation of the Michener Art Museum’s physical facility with new façade landscaping, revitalization of permanent collection galleries, refreshed curatorial efforts, a celebration of the Museum’s 25th Anniversary of operation, and negotiated for the highly successful exhibition From Philadelphia to Monaco: Grace Kelly – Beyond the Icon presented in 2013-2014 to over 100,000 visitors. Lisa has juried over 85 art exhibitions and public art commissions and served on the Board of Directors of the Wayne Art Center, The Baum School of Art, and the Wood Turning Center of Philadelphia.
Additional Terms and Conditions
The Festival will be held regardless of weather and will not be re-scheduled. Artist attendance at all events is mandatory.
Competition artists release and hold harmless BCPA, their officers, employees, agents and designees from any and all responsibility or liability. BCPA is not responsible for any monetary losses, including bad checks or credit cards.
Visit www.BucksCountyPleinAir.org for a complete list of terms and conditions.
The Bucks County Plein Air Festival seeks to promote Buck County’s most valuable assets through artistic and economic efforts that will enhance, educate, celebrate and preserve its unparalleled heritage and uniqueness.
For more information:
BucksCountyPleinAir.org
bcpleinair@bucks.edu
215-968-8224