Plein air competition
The First Annual
Charleston
Plein Air Competition
November 3–8, 2026 • Charleston, South Carolina
Join artists from across the country for the First Annual Charleston Plein Air Competition, a six-day celebration of outdoor painting, creativity, and the timeless beauty of Charleston. Presented by the Blair Center for the Arts and Mary Martin Gallery, the competition welcomes professional, emerging, and amateur artists to paint entirely outdoors, on location, throughout downtown Charleston and the historic peninsula. Artists will compete for cash awards, exhibit and sell their work during First Friday ArtWalk weekend, connect with collectors and fellow artists, and gain valuable exposure to Mary Martin Gallery and the Charleston arts community.
Open to Artists of All Skill Levels
One Open Competition
Professional, emerging, and amateur artists are invited to compete together in one open competition celebrating plein air painting and the beauty of Charleston.
Outdoor Plein Air Only
All competition artwork must be painted entirely outdoors, on location, en plein air during the official competition period.
Cash Awards & Opportunities
A minimum of $3,000 in cash prizes is confirmed, with additional awards and opportunities potentially being added as the event approaches.
Competition Details
- Registration is limited to the first 100 artists.
- Artist check-in and stamping will take place at Mary Martin Gallery, 103 Broad Street, Tuesday, November 3 from 9:00 AM–12:00 PM.
- Artists may begin painting immediately after their materials have been officially stamped.
- Oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, pastel, and mixed media are accepted.
- All competition artwork must be created entirely outdoors, on location, en plein air during the official competition period.
- Painting or materially finishing competition artwork inside a studio, home, hotel, vehicle, gallery, or other enclosed location is not permitted.
- Surfaces must be free of drawings, marks, or images prior to stamping. A solid base color is permitted.
- Projection, tracing, transfer methods, or other means of transferring a pre-existing drawing or image onto a competition surface are not permitted.
- There is no limit to the number of surfaces an artist may have stamped during the designated stamping period.
- Artists may submit a maximum of two completed works for judging, exhibition, and sale.
- The official competition stamp must remain visible on the finished artwork.
- Artwork must be a minimum of 8" × 10" and may not exceed 16" × 20", measured unframed.
- Gallery-wrapped canvases are acceptable.
- All submitted artwork must be appropriately presented, wired, and ready to hang.
- All submitted artwork must be available for sale.
- A 30% gallery commission applies to artwork sold through the competition exhibition and sale.
- Competition-related artwork sales, including sales arranged directly between an artist and buyer during the competition or exhibition period, must be reported to and processed through Mary Martin Gallery.
- Artwork turn-in, exhibition, judging, awards, prize presentation, and artwork pickup will take place at Mary Martin Gallery.
Event Schedule
Tuesday, November 3
9:00 AM–12:00 PMArtist Check-In & Stamping at Mary Martin Gallery
Official plein air painting begins immediately after each artist's materials have been stamped.
Welcome Reception
Time to be announced
Wednesday, November 4
Outdoor Plein Air Painting Throughout CharlestonThursday, November 5
Outdoor Plein Air Painting Throughout CharlestonArtwork Turn-In at Mary Martin Gallery
Deadline: 5:00 PM
Friday, November 6
Exhibition Installation & Judging Review at Mary Martin GalleryGallery Closed 4:00–5:00 PM for Final Judging
Official Exhibition Opening — 5:00 PM
First Friday ArtWalk & Sale
Saturday, November 7
Public Exhibition & SaleJudging Results Announcement
Awards Ceremony & Prize Presentation
Sunday, November 8
Final Exhibition & SaleArtwork Pick-Up at Mary Martin Gallery
Specific times for the Welcome Reception, Saturday Awards Ceremony, and Sunday artwork pickup will be communicated to registered artists prior to the competition.
Meet the Judge
Dee Beard Dean
2026 Competition Judge
Dee Beard Dean is a nationally recognized painter and an early pioneer in the contemporary plein air movement. Her work is known for painterly landscapes filled with evocative light and dramatic shadows, and her paintings are held in private and corporate collections throughout the United States. She is the founder of Plein Air Painters of the Southeast (PAP-SE), a Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society and the American Society of Marine Artists, and an Honorary Signature Member of International Plein Air Painters. Dee has received awards at juried competitions including the Easton and Carmel Plein Air Invitationals and has taught plein air and studio workshops throughout the United States and abroad. She resides in the Charleston area.
Learn More About Dee Beard Dean
$3,000 in Cash Awards
$3,000
Confirmed Prize Pool — With the Possibility of More Awards to Come
First Place $1,500
+ Featured Gallery Opportunity
Second Place $1,000
Third Place $500
And there may be more to come.
The $3,000 prize pool is currently confirmed. As additional sponsors and community partners join the event, additional cash awards, prizes, and special recognitions may be added.
In addition to the $1,500 cash award, the First Place winner will receive a featured opportunity with Mary Martin Gallery, with the format and timing to be determined by the gallery.
The $3,000 prize pool is currently confirmed. As additional sponsors and community partners join the event, additional cash awards, prizes, and special recognitions may be added.
In addition to the $1,500 cash award, the First Place winner will receive a featured opportunity with Mary Martin Gallery, with the format and timing to be determined by the gallery.
Artist Exposure & Gallery Opportunities
Participation in the Charleston Plein Air Competition provides artists with valuable exposure to collectors, gallery visitors, fellow artists, and the Charleston arts community.
Through the exhibition, First Friday ArtWalk, public sale, and event promotion, participating artists will have the opportunity to introduce their work to a broader audience.
The competition also gives Mary Martin Gallery an opportunity to discover new artists. Participating artists may be considered for future exhibitions, special projects, or representation by Mary Martin Gallery.
Participation does not guarantee gallery representation.
Through the exhibition, First Friday ArtWalk, public sale, and event promotion, participating artists will have the opportunity to introduce their work to a broader audience.
The competition also gives Mary Martin Gallery an opportunity to discover new artists. Participating artists may be considered for future exhibitions, special projects, or representation by Mary Martin Gallery.
Participation does not guarantee gallery representation.
Painting Throughout Historic Charleston
Artists may select their own appropriate outdoor painting locations within downtown Charleston and the historic peninsula. Artists painting in public parks and public spaces should keep sidewalks and pedestrian areas clear, use equipment that can be easily carried away, and never leave equipment or materials unattended or behind.
Artists must not enter private property, including private stoops, doorways, courtyards, gardens, or other private areas, without the express permission of the property owner.
Weddings and private ceremonies frequently take place at White Point Garden. Artists choosing to paint there should be respectful of families and groups who have reserved portions of the park for their special events.
The locations below are offered as suggestions for inspiration and convenience. Artists may choose other appropriate outdoor locations within the designated competition area.
Artists must not enter private property, including private stoops, doorways, courtyards, gardens, or other private areas, without the express permission of the property owner.
Weddings and private ceremonies frequently take place at White Point Garden. Artists choosing to paint there should be respectful of families and groups who have reserved portions of the park for their special events.
The locations below are offered as suggestions for inspiration and convenience. Artists may choose other appropriate outdoor locations within the designated competition area.
Rainbow Row
The Battery
White Point Garden
Waterfront Park & Pineapple Fountain
St. Michael's Church
Church Street
French Quarter District
Colonial Lake
Artist Registration
$95
- Official competition participation
- Open to professional, emerging, and amateur artists
- Outdoor-only plein air painting competition
- Eligibility for all competition awards
- Official surface stamping at Mary Martin Gallery
- No limit on the number of surfaces stamped during the designated stamping period
- Up to two completed works may be submitted for judging, exhibition, and sale
- Welcome Reception
- First Friday ArtWalk exhibition opening
- Public weekend exhibition and sale at Mary Martin Gallery
- Awards Ceremony & Prize Presentation
- Professional event promotion and exposure
- Opportunity to be considered for future Mary Martin Gallery exhibitions, projects, or representation
DOWNLOAD COMPETITION RULES
Severe Weather Notice: In the event of a hurricane, tropical storm, mandatory evacuation, or other serious emergency that makes it unsafe or impractical to hold the competition as scheduled, the event may be postponed or rescheduled. Registered artists will be notified as soon as possible of any changes.
Online Watercolor for Beginners
Always wanted to paint with watercolors but didn’t know where to start? This gentle, encouraging online class is designed especially for beginners.
Why Join This Class?
- ✨ Perfect for absolute beginners
- 🎨 Start with the basics
- 🖌️ Step-by-step guidance
- 📐 Complete full projects
- 🤍 Gentle and supportive
- Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
- Press the space key then arrow keys to make a selection.