On July 9, 2016, talented (& calm) artists created artwork that they painted in historic downtown Ellicott City during a TWO hour period. “Paint Down Main”, Quick Draw competition was held on a hot, but beautiful, Saturday morning and it was an AMAZING event to watch! “Paint Down Main” Quick Draw event is within the Paint It! Ellicott City Plein Air Event. How awesome for spectators to witness a piece of art created and completed in such a short amount of time!
The sponsors of this creative and challenging event were Mat About You Custom Framing & Gallery, Ellicott City Partnership (ECP), Howard County Arts Council, Howard County Tourism.
At noon, the blow of the horn sounded, signaling the finish time, painters gathered at the Howard County Tourism lot, displayed their artwork and waited patiently 🙂 while the jurors judged their art. Judges Steve Stannard of Steve Stannard’s Salient Group, Char Randolph of ClayGround and Sara Arditti, of Still Life Fine Art Gallery, chose winners in the competition for cash prizes. Patrons could then purchase their favorite painting directly off the easel or visit the Paint Down Main exhibit during the Ellicott City 2nd Sunday Art Market, held at Mat About You Gallery on July 10th.
This awesome event is the brainchild of Chuck Gruss of Mat About You, “We hold this event to give the town’s visitors, a chance to see a piece of art work come together from start to finish. It’s not too often someone gets a chance to see that happen in a such a short amount of time”.
Last year, 2015, was the inaugural year and welcomed 33 participants competing for $600 in cash prizes! This year, 2016, there were 48 participants competing for $1200 in cash prizes!! Mat About you Custom Framing and Gallery, Ellicott City Partnership and Chesapeake Fine Art Studio all donated toward the cash prizes.
Winners from the “Paint Down Main” Quick Draw;
1st Place “Main Street Ellicott City” by Alison Leigh Menke
2nd Place “Little House, Big Woods” by Courtney E. Lee
3rd Place “Wired” by Ray Ewing
Top Non-Juried “Tiber River Under Parking Lot” by Jane Knighton
Honorable Mentions:
-“Old Columbia Pike” by Tara Will
-“Ask Not” by Joanna Burnum
-“Tiger & Blues” by Ann Crostic
-“Tongue Row” by Deborah Cole
-Under 18 Winner “Oriental Rugs” by Ashley Hof
-Under 18 Honorable Mentions, “Park” by Laila Lowery and “City Shop” by Jonathan Storch
-People’s Choice “Old Columbia Pike” by Tara Will
This is one of the many cultural events held in Historic Ellicott City throughout the year. I am looking forward to having our street back and rockin’ the events again!
As I walked around the Quick Draw boundaries, searching for painters, I was in complete awe with what I saw. Each painter interpreted their views so differently and every single one of them, so magnificently. I loved seeing the many different techniques the artists displayed, the different interpretations of the same landscape. The unique color choices, some muted, some vibrant. Yet they all had something in common, they each produced incredible and beautiful pieces of art.
I hope you enjoy these photos.
Thank you to everyone involved! Hope to see you next year!
Job very well done, everyone! Thank you for another awesome day in Ellicott City!
I’d like to remind our readers, that if you’d like to donate to the Ellicott City Partnership for the assistance of the flood victims, the link is: Flood donations, thank you for your consideration.
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Visitors – thank you for checking out images and information about the another event from Historic Main Street.
If you are ever in need of photography services, I’d love the chance to chat with you. Here’s a little more info about us…..Whether you choose to be photographed in our studio, on location or along the quaint streets of our own beautiful historic town of Ellicott City, MD, you will truly enjoy your experience with Pam Long Photography. Clients enjoy a variety of portraiture, from maternity and babies, to children and families, high school seniors, pets, business headshots and special events. Whatever occasion life blesses you with, we will help you capture and document those moments to cherish for generations to come. To receive information about what we offer and how we can meet your needs, please contact us at
410.988.5563 or
email us at pam@pamlongphotography.com to set up a complimentary consultation.
We look forward to transforming your memories into your favorite works of art!
Pam Long Photography 
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