Mountain Maryland Plein Air:  A Feast For Eyes 

Saturday was the ideal day for being outside on the downtown Cumberland walking mall.  Sun beaming, humidity low, and nary a cloud in the sky.  Top it off with the chance to see a horde of artists busy at their easels and you’ve got just the right combination for a pleasurable time.

The 3^rd annual Plein Air event, or to be more specific, the 3^rd Mountain Maryland Plein Air event, is taking place here in Allegany County, sponsored by the Allegany County Arts Council. 

If you’re like me and a doofus as to what Plein Air means, let me fill you in:  Think outdoors and think impressionistic and you’ve got the main idea in your head.

Numerous artists have converged on our Queen City and neighboring by-ways, working their magic with colors and form and whatever other concepts they use when creating artwork on canvases, and they are doing all of this outdoors for all the world to watch.

The artists have three days to complete any paintings that they want to present for judging, and they have the opportunity to sell their finished works at the Saville Gallery, home of the Arts Council.

The pictures that I have to share with you are from my wanderings around the downtown mall on this beautiful Saturday, during which time a “quick draw” contest was being held.  This did not involve any six-shooters, but rather a contest for the best painting to be completed in no more than two hours.

If you’ve never witnessed a quick draw contest, I’d highly suggest not missing the next opportunity that comes around.  It was amazing to watch the process as these artists applied their paints and created scenes to enchant your eyes and mind.

Apologies for not having names to go with pictures.  And for anyone I might have left out.

Thanks to all who made such an event happen here in Mountain Maryland.

Thanks to the artists for doing their thing.

     I don't know about you, but I've walked around these neighborhoods lots of times and from now on I'll certainly have a different perspective on the scenery as I stroll or pedal around the town, thanks to the talent that these artists have shared with us.

     I'm already anxiously awaiting the 4th annual.  Kudus to all those who made this happen.