Plein Air Quick Draw

Plein Air: of or relating to painting in outdoor daylight

Merriam-Webster dictionary

---

The Basics

• When: Saturday, September 26, 2026
• Registration Location: Mount Joy Area Historical Society – 120 Fairview Street, Mount Joy
• Judging: Mount Joy Area Historical Society – 120 Fairview Street, Mount Joy
• Paint Out Area: The downtown Mount Joy Area. See below for a detailed map.
• Restrooms: Mount Joy Area Historical Society – 120 Fairview Street, Mount Joy
• Subject Matter: Anything observed within the paint out area. Artists are encouraged (but not required) to paint Mount Joy’s buildings as a way to capture our history.
• Cost: $10 to participate, free to spectate!
  • You can register online here or sign up day of event

Timeline

8:00am – 10:00am	Registration and setup
10:00am – Noon	Painting
Noon – 12:30pm	Return finished pieces to historical society
12:30pm – 1:15pm	Judging and public viewing
1:15pm	Awards ceremony
2:00pm	Pick up all unsold artwork

Rules for Artists

1. Rain or shine! No refunds will be made due to inclement weather. We will have indoor/covered locations available in the case of rain.
2. You must be at least 18 years old.
3. Be responsible with your painting location:
   • Keep to public spaces. Only set up on private property with owner’s permission.
   • Do not block traffic (car or pedestrian).
4. The creation of the art itself:
   • You must begin with a blank surface (canvas, paper, etc.).
   • Artwork must be completed “En Plein Air” – creating in the open air directly from the scene as it appears in the moment, without the aid of photographs.
   • Work must be started and finished within the allotted 2 hour window (10am-noon).
   • Bring your own supplies and equipment.
   • Mediums allowed: any traditional 2-dimensional mediums are allowed (charcoal, graphite, acrylic, oil, watercolor, pastel, etc.). No photography or digital art.
5. Judging and sales:
   • Final artwork must be framed or gallery wrapped. Small easels will be provided to display your final piece.
   • Artists are responsible to bring an easel/tripod to present their artwork. We will provide blank labels to attach.
   • All artwork must be for sale.
     • A 30% commission will benefit the Mount Joy Area Historical Society, a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Artists will receive 70% of the amount paid for their artwork. The Mount Joy Area Historical Society is responsible for payment of PA sales tax.
   • Any unsold artwork that is not picked up by end of event will be considered as a donation to the Mount Joy Area Historical Society.
   • The judge’s decisions are final.

Location / Paint Out Area

All art must be completed within the defined green area below. The starting and ending location (the historical society building) is also indicated along with parking areas. There is ample street parking in downtown Mount Joy.

Awards

• First Place, sponsored by Ladybug Crossing – $150
• Second Place, sponsored by Room with a View – $100
• Third Place, sponsored by TBD – $50

Juror

Lisa Regopoulos

When Realism meets Impressionism in pastel, that’s where the excitement begins for MA native, recently turned Maryland resident, artist Lisa Regopoulos. First impressions of the scene are the moments she wants to capture, that is why plein air painting excites her most.

Her enthusiasm for pastel and plein air painting has led her to learn from some of the nation’s best artists in pastel, gouache, watercolor and oil at the Plein Air Conventions in Tucson, Santa Fe and San Francisco as well as the IAPS conventions in Albuquerque, NM. She has attended many pastel intensive workshops to grow as an artist, her favorite was a ten day plein air in Tuscany, Italy. Lisa was a student at the Worcester Art Museum and also the Sharon Arts Center.

Lisa has worked in the pastel medium for over twenty years. She is a sought after pastel workshop instructor for studio and plein air across the USA and occasionally in Italy (La Romita School of Art) and Painting and Barging in France. She was an instructor for Artists Network Art Fest in Lancaster, PA and Mesa, AZ. She also teaches workshops for Pastel Societies across the USA, in person and via Zoom. June 5, 2027, she’ll be teaching a two day plein air workshop at the Sanborn Mills Farm in Loudon, NH.

She’s a Master Circle Member of IAPS, Juried Associate of the AIS Society, PSA, and juried exhibitor at the Crane Estate Art Show and Sale in Ipswich, MA.

Her most recent accolades are receiving 1st place award in the Still Life and Floral Category in the Pastel Journal 2025, and a solo museum show at Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, MA. She was also one of the Artist in Residence participants at the Fruitlands Museum.

Questions/Contact

info@mountjoyhistory.com

Sponsors

• Ladybug Crossing
• Room with a View
• Tom Derr

Disclaimer

Participation constitutes agreement that images may be used for web and print promotional purposes. 

None of the involved groups (Mount Joy Area Historical Society) are responsible for personal injury, illness, or damage/loss/theft of artwork that may happen during this event. Artists must provide their own insurance coverage if desired. In addition, artists are responsible for their own personal safety during the event.  Applying for the event constitutes the artist’s agreement with all rules and statements made here.