The Mountain Maryland Plein Air juried competition and exhibition will be presented and managed this year by the Mountain Maryland Plein Air Committee and an established, non-profit organization. The event, now in its 13th year, will be held in downtown galleries and spaces located in Cumberland, Maryland.

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, which includes attractions like the C&O Canal, Casselman Bridge, and the Potomac River. 

Only 30 artists will be invited to participate for awards totaling over $13,000 in prize money.

LODGING

Artists are responsible for costs related to their lodging; however, the sponsoring organization attempts to obtain host housing for any artist wishing to be housed with a local family. Host families may reside in either Allegany or Garrett Counties, and host accommodations can be as far as a 60-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

30% commission on artwork sold during the 2025 Mountain Maryland Plein Air Competition & Exhibition, will be charged. 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 70% of its retail value.

EXHIBITION INFORMATION

Artists will check in for the event Monday, June 9, 2025. On Friday, June 13, 2025, 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 14, 2025.

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: Stewart White

Stewart White, a watercolorist from Baltimore, Maryland, blends his background in architectural illustration with his artistry to create paintings that balance strong design and a painterly style. A graduate of Pratt Institute and UC Berkeley (BFA), Stewart also served three years in the U.S. Army. His award-winning watercolors, featured in architectural illustrations and painting competitions, have earned widespread recognition. He has exhibited extensively in juried and gallery shows across the U.S.,and in 2025 will lead workshops in Sicily, Ireland and France.

Stewart’s accolades include Grand Prizes at the Easton Plein Air Festival (2009) and Plein Air Magazine’s Salon. He served as President of the Mid-Atlantic Plein-Air Painters Association (MAPAPA), is a member of the American Impressionists Society (AIS), a signature member of the National Watercolor Society (NWS) and the American Watercolor Society (AWS), Executive Fellow of the ASMA American Society of Marine Artists and was President (2012) of the American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI).

Application Requirements

Applicants should apply through CAFÉ (www.callforentry.org.) The call may be found using “2025 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.

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 February 28, 2025.

Eligibility Criteria

Application must be submitted by February 28, 2025. If selected, artists must commit to the schedule provided: 

SCHEDULE

Event timeframe, June 9 – 14, 2025  (Monday – Saturday)

*Registration and Check-in, Monday, June 9, 8:30am-10:30am

*Welcome Event (evening) – Tuesday, June 10, 2025

*Collector’s Reception (evening) – Friday, June 13, 2025

*Quickdraw (morning) – Saturday, June 14, 2025