Suffolk Plein Air Festival 2026~ Quick Draw Event

CALLING ALL ARTISTS!
If you like to PAINT ~ join the fun during the Suffolk Plein Air Festival 'PAINT the TASTE' ! 
OPEN to Youth, ages 10-17, & Adults ~ ALL Abilities!
PAINT SUFFOLK VA Saturday, September 12th, 11 - 1 PM, during ‘Taste of Suffolk’ Downtown Street Festival. “PAINT the TASTE”, formally known as Quick Draw, is a fun competition that asks Artists to complete an entire piece of Plein Air artwork quickly, within 120 minutes!
​Suffolk Plein Air 'PAINT the TASTE'
WHO: Open to Youth,10-17, and Adults & ALL Abilities
WHEN: Saturday, September 12, 2026 (11-1 pm)
WHERE: Historic Downtown Suffolk, Virginia
HOW: Pre-register online, or 9/12/26 @ 10AM at the Check-in Table.
COST: $10 / person, Artists provide their own easel & painting supplies.
PRIZES: CASH PRIZES: $300 Best in Show, $200 Second Place, $100 Third Place, plus Award Ribbons.
**Opportunity to sell your artwork on the street!**

2026 Suffolk Plein Air Festival

Paint the Taste/Quick Draw Competition Guidelines
1. REGISTRATION/CHECK-IN: All registered Suffolk Plein Air Festival artists must
check-in at the Suffolk Plein Air tent inside the Taste of Suffolk Street Festival, between
10-11am, on September12th, to participate in the Quick Draw competition. Festival artists are automatically registered in the Quick Draw.

Artists participating ONLY in the Quick Draw competition may register at that time or before the day
of the event online. The tent is located at the corner of Main and Market Streets in
downtown Suffolk (Wells Fargo Bank). Blank canvases will be stamped, and artists will
pick up their artwork labels, (described in items #9 and #10, below).

2. A ten-dollar ($10) Fee is due at time of registration, from those artists competing in the
Quick Draw event ONLY. There is no fee for the Plein Air Festival Participating Artists.

3. BOUNDARIES: The geographic boundaries of the Quick Draw Competition are the
boundaries of the Taste of Suffolk Street Festival. Prior to painting inside any building: it is
the artist’s responsibility to obtain permission prior to the start of the competition.

4. START: At 11am a horn will sound, at which time Artists may begin to create en Plein Air.
Artists must begin with nothing pre-painted or pre-drawn and create their Quick Draw
artwork only during the 2-hour time limit. Pre-toned canvases are permitted. Two-
dimensional media is acceptable, except photography.

5. STOP: At 1pm, the horn will sound again, at which time all painting must end.

6. Competing artists must abide by all Quick Draw Event guidelines and rules detailed
herein. Any artist found painting before or after the designated horns sound, or
painting inside any building without receiving prior permission, will be disqualified
and will not be judged.

7. FRAMING: For Adult entries, each Quick Draw painting must be framed or matted prior to
the exhibition and judging, for ease of handling. Framing is not required for Youth artwork.

8. EXHIBIT and JUDGING: Between 1pm and 1:30pm, all artists must bring artwork and
completed labels with their personal easels to the Suffolk Plein Air Festival tent at the
corner of Main and Market Steets. Event staff and volunteers will assist the artists with
setting up easels and artwork for the Quick Draw Exhibit and Judging. The judge will begin
reviewing artwork at 1:30pm and prizes will be announced from the D.J. Stage at 2:45pm.
All artwork and artists’ equipment must be picked up by 4:00pm. Suffolk Plein Air
Festival cannot be responsible for any artwork or equipment left unattended.

9. PRICING/PAYMENT: The price of the artwork is determined by the artist. Suffolk Plein Air
Festival will collect a 20% commission on all sales. Two Tags, each indicating the artist’s
name, title and price of the piece will be provided at check-in/registration. If sold prior to
the exhibit, the buyer must bring one tag with the artist’s name, title of the artwork, and
price to the Suffolk Plein Air Festival tent for processing. Artists will be mailed a check for
any artwork sold within 30 days of the event.

10. SALE: Each Quick Draw artwork for sale must have two tags with the artist’s name, title,
and price attached. Purchases will be processed at the Suffolk Plein Air Festival tent.
Credit Cards, checks, and cash will be accepted. Artwork can be sold at any time
throughout the event but must remain until after judging and awards are announced.

DOWNLOAD: 'Paint the Taste' instructions.
Suffolk Plein Air Festival "PAINT THE TASTE' Quick Draw Event is generously sponsored by:
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