I did two plein air competitions in the summer of 2014. One, in Castine Maine, which I wrote about previously. The second one was in Solomons, Maryland, which is an appealing town on the Chesapeake Bay in Southern Maryland. It had a little bit the feeling of my area in Maine – a seaside town with marina. In the town you will find galleries, restaurants and the Calvert Marine Museum.
The event was held in late September, and it was nice to feel a little real heat when you could already smell the fall up in Maine. Carmen’s Gallery, which is the sponsor of the event, did an outstanding job for the artists. There were several nice receptions including a wonderful ride in the Skipjack Dee on the bay during which I had a nice conversation with Stephen Doherty, the events judge and editor of Plein Air Magazine (who did an article on me in 2013).
I had very comfortable host housing, sold a couple of paintings, won a couple of prizes, and felt very loved by Carmen and her staff. And I met an old friend from Chicago, Wesley Drake and made some new ones! Who can ask for more!
Stephan Giannini 