Downtown Thomaston Plein Air Competition

The City of Thomaston is excited to announce the 3rd Annual Art & Soul Fest! The festival will begin at Lazy J Mercantile on Thursday April 18th. Activities will continue in Downtown Thomaston on Friday, April 19th and conclude at Greatest Generation Park on Saturday, April 20th! Thursday April 18th, 2024 Location: Lazy J Mercantile Time: 5:00-10:00pm Events: Live Music & Demos, Food Trucks, Arts & Crafts Vendors   Friday April 19th, 2024   Location: Downtown Thomaston Time: 4:00-10:00PM Events: Live Music and Demonstrations, Plein Air Competition, Film Festival, Spoken Word Competition, Food Trucks, Sip & Stroll     Saturday April 20th, 2024   Location: Greatest Generation Park Time: 10:00AM-6:00PM Events: Live Performances and Demonstrations, Chalk Art Competition, Plein Air Competition, Pottery Competition, Photography Competition,  Arts & Craft Vendors, Food Trucks, "Experiential" Kids Zone  

The City of Thomaston will be hosting the 2nd Annual Plein Air Competition, as part of the 3rd Annual Thomaston Art & Soul Festival.    Festival Theme: "Threads of Time"   Sketch of Downtown Thomaston between 2pm and 6pm. Judging will commence at 6:30pm   Day 1: Downtown Thomaston Prizes: 1st: $300, 2nd: $150, 3rd: $50

• This event is open to any artist (18 years or older) who paints using Plein Air techniques, in all fine art painting mediums (oils, acrylics, gouaches, watercolors, pastels, or pencils). Other mediums may be accepted upon prior approval.
• Artist must be on location in Downtown Thomaston by 4pm, during the offical Painting Period.
• No use of photography, photographic or computer equipment is allowed for painting plein air competition entries.
• All art must be created in the field (no studio work) and all surfaces (canvas, board, paper) must be stamped and authenticated at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council (TUAC) building in Downtown Thomaston (201 S. Center Street) prior to painting.
• Artists may submit up to (1) painting.
• Artists assume all risk and liability for any artwork hung in and during the exhibit.
• All Plein Air entries must be submitted for judging by 6:15PM on Friday April 19th. Judging will commence at 6:30PM.
• Artists must assign a selling price for their artwork, considering that TUAC will receive a 20% commission from the sales price. The sell of all artwork during the exhibit will be handled by the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council. However, you are not required to sell your work.
• Artwork will go on exhbit to the public at a Downtown Business (TBD) for up to 30 days. During this time, artwork will be available for puchase at TUAC. Artists are responsible for the pick-up of all artwork after the Plein Air exhibit, which ends after 30 days. The City of Thomaston, nor TUAC, will be responsible for any artwork left, not picked-up, or arranged for pickup. Any artwork left for more than 30 days becomes the property of TUAC.
• If you are missing something you need in order to paint or frame your artwork, TUAC may be able to assist you.
• Artists are responsible for their own transporation, lodging, and paint supplies. Paint supplies are available in a limited capacity, locally, so come prepared.
• The City of Thomaston, its employees, agents, contractors, sponsors, staff, volunteers, and the owners of property on which any activities take place, or where an artist paints, will not be responsible for any theft, loss, incident, accident, personal injury, or legal situations involving the artist, artwork, and/or personal property before, during, or after the competition.
• Artsists are responsible for providing any or all insurance to cover themselves, their artwork, and/or their property. This is not a requirement, but artists assume the risks associated with participation in the event.
• Artists will be assigned "Genral Areas" for painting. Artists are responsible in asking and receiving permission to paint on private property outside of the assigned areas.
• By participating in this competition, artists agree to follow these rules, behave as a professional, and conform to public and artistic ethics during the competition. Judges will have final discretion with respect to awards. The City of Thomaston reserves the right to adjudicate any work shown in the competition and sale.
• Participating artists will allow the City of Thomaston to photograph all artists and painting and release to the City of Thomaston such images and work for promotional and publicity purposes.

• The City of Thomaston, its employees, agents, contractors, sponsors, staff, volunteers, and the owners of property on which any activities take place, will not be responsible for any theft, loss, incident, accident, personal injury, or legal situations involving the artist, artwork, and/or personal property before, during, or after the competition.
• Artsists are responsible for providing any or all insurance to cover themselves, their artwork, and/or their property. This is not a requirement, but artists assume the risks associated with participation in the event.
• By participating in this competition, artists agree to follow these rules, behave as a professional, and conform to public and artistic ethics during the competition. Judges will have final discretion with respect to awards. The City of Thomaston reserves the right to adjudicate any work shown in the competition and sale.
• Participating artists will allow the City of Thomaston to photograph all artists and painting and release to the City of Thomaston such images and work for promotional and publicity purposes.