2nd Annual Plein Air Showcase of Georgia’s Rome – Oct 18, 2025

Registration Now Open – Register Now!

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🎨 Showcase Details

🗓️ Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025
📍 Location: Historic Downtown Rome, GA (during Fiddlin’ Fest)
🎟️ Entry Fee: $25
🕗 Artist Check-in & Canvas Stamping: 8:00 AM at Hardy on Broad (440 Broad Street) View Map
🖼️ Painting Deadline: 12:00 PM
🔗 Register: Register Online Now
📞 Questions? Kristi Kent — 706-295-5576 | 📧 kkent@romega.us

🖌️ About the Showcase

Calling all artists—beginner to professional! This one-day plein air painting event invites you to capture the charm, color, and life of Downtown Rome as it comes alive during Fiddlin’ Fest. Artists will paint en plein air (outdoors) between 8:00 AM and noon, choosing from scenic streets, parks, bridges, and historical landmarks within the designated painting zone.

The goal: to create original art on-site using natural light and real-time inspiration!

✅ Painting Guidelines

• Accepted Mediums: Oil, acrylic, watercolor, and (new this year) pastel (oil or chalk)

• Surface Requirements: Canvas, canvas board, or quality cover-weight art paper

• Max Size: 12” x 16”

• Surface Stamping: All surfaces must be blank and stamped at check-in before painting

• Surface Limit: Up to 2 surfaces may be stamped; only 1 may be submitted for judging and sale

• Painting Time Limit: All paintings must be started and completed on the day of the event

• Subject Matter: Anything visible within the designated plein air painting zone

• Map & Painting Zone: View painting zone map at View Map (pdf) 

🗺️ Where to Paint

Rome offers a wide variety of inspiring views, including:

• Town Green & Chief John Ross Pedestrian Bridge

• Robert Redden Footbridge (“Flag Bridge”)

• Rome Clocktower

• Capitoline Wolf & Rome City Hall

• Historic churches and downtown buildings

• The DeSoto Theatre

• Myrtle Hill Cemetery overlook

🛑 Note: Artists must paint on public property only and must not block or set up in vendor areas or car show spaces. View map of festival.

🏆 Prizes & Awards – Total Purse: $600

Thanks to generous sponsors Hardy Realty and the Rome Area Council for the Arts (RACA), cash prizes and ribbons will be awarded:

• 🥇 First Place – $200

• 🥈 Second Place – $150

• 🥉 Third Place – $100

• 🎖️ Honorable Mention – $50

• ✨ RACA Beginner Artist Awards – $100 total (encouraging first-time plein air participants)

• 🎗️ Ribbons awarded in all categories

🖼️ Wet Paint Sale & Silent Auction

All participating artists are invited to enter their completed work into the Wet Paint Sale – Silent Auction, held at Hardy on Broad within the Fiddlin’ Fest area.

• 🕛 Submission Deadline: 12:00 PM (same as judging deadline)

• 🕐 Judging Results Announced: 1:00 PM

• 🕜 Live Demo with Guest Artist: 1:30 PM

• 🛍️ Silent Auction Hours: 12:00 – 3:30 PM

• 💵 Suggested Starting Bid: $25 (with $5 increments)

• 💯 100% of proceeds go to the artist

👩‍🎨 Guest Judge & Live Demo

Professional plein air artist Rachel Eichholtz will serve as this year’s guest judge. After the awards ceremony at 1:00 PM, she will present a live demonstration at 1:30 PM, sharing techniques for capturing light, movement, and atmosphere quickly on canvas. All are welcome to observe and ask questions.

🚗 Parking & Restrooms

• Closest Short-Term Parking (3 hr limit): Broad St between E 5th & E 6th Ave

• All-Day Free Parking: Rome City Hall & Auditorium (601 Broad St)

• Restrooms: Portable toilets available throughout the festival; Hardy on Broad restroom available to artists during check-in and drop-off

• 🚫 No Parking in Front of Hardy on Broad – street closed to traffic

📸 Media Use & Fine Print

By participating, artists agree to allow Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism to use images or video of their artwork for future promotional materials. The Office reserves the right to update event details and will post any changes on the official website.

🧑‍🎨 You Might Also Be Interested – Beginner Workshop with Rachel Eichholtz

Discover the Art of Plein Air Painting – Workshop (in advance of the showcase)
We are offering a plein air workshop with professional plein air artist, Rachel Eichholtz, a few weeks prior to the showcase on Saturday, September 27, to encourage new artists to try plein air painting or help experienced artists refine their skills
Learn More | Download Flyer |  View Facebook | Workshop Registration

Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Location: Town Green, Rome, GA
Ahead of the showcase, Rachel will lead a Beginner Plein Air Workshop—a fun and casual session open to all skill levels. Materials will be provided.

👉 Learn more and register online at RomeGeorgia.org/PleinAir

Thank you to our showcase partners:

Hardy Realty

Rome Area Council for the Arts

Regional Art Alliance