Plein Air Showcase of Georgia’s Rome – Oct 18, 2025
Registration Now Open!
Calling all artists, with all levels of experience to participate in the Plein Air Showcase of Georgia’s Rome. Plein air works are created outdoors, or en plein air on the day of the showcase.
The showcase coincides with Fiddlin’ Fest, a fall street festival in historic Downtown Rome. There will be ample places to paint along the street and in surrounding green spaces and parks. Artists will enjoy Rome’s scenic downtown for opportunities to incorporate natural light, color and movement into their work.
Information for Artists & Rules for the Showcase
Total Purse: $500 total purse paid out $200/$150/$100/$50
* Ribbons for Best of Show, First, Second, Third and Honorable Mention
Entry Fee: $25 Entry Fee
Painting Size: Paintings should be no larger than 12”x16”
Medium: Oils, Acrylics, Watercolors and Pastels (oil or chalk) are the accepted mediums and can be painted on canvas, canvas board, or quality cover weight art paper.
Painting Location: Paintings must be of a subject located in the designated plein air painting zone.
Artists may only set-up on public property and cannot set-up in areas designated for festival set-ups (vendors, car show parking spots, etc.). View map of the designated plein air painting zone: View Map (pdf)
Painting Subject: Paintings can be of any subject pertaining to what can be seen in downtown Rome.
Painting Time Limit: Paintings must be completed on the day of the showcase. Canvas/Boards/Paper must be stamped by the Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism prior to beginning; approval opens at 8 a.m. on the day of the showcase at Hardy on Broad. All art must be completed and submitted at Hardy on Broad by Noon on the day of the showcase.
Painting Entry: Artists may have up to two painting surfaces stamped, but only one painting can be submitted for judging and the silent auction (if the artist opts to submit for the silent auction.) All painting surfaces must be blank at check-in and must be stamped prior to beginning any work on the painting.
Wet Paint Sale – Silent Auction: Silent Auction will open for artists interested in selling their paintings; the silent auction opens at 1:00 p.m. The suggested minimum bid is $25; with $5 incremental bids. 100% of proceeds go to the artist. The Wet Paint Sale – Silent Auction will run from Noon to 3:30 pm.
Judging: Winners will be announced at 1 p.m.
How it Works/Day of Event: On the day of the event, artists will check-in at Hardy on Broad. Check-in is open from 8 a.m to 9 a.m. Most artists will want to check-in early to allow themselves plenty of time of paint. Remember that your canvas(es) must be blank (no sketches are permitted on the canvas). Artists are not assigned locations. Artists are permitted to paint anywhere in the designated plein air painting zone; being mindful to not block vendors/car show set-up. View map of festival. Return your completed painting to the check-in location at Hardy on Broad between 11:00 am and Noon. Artists are permitted to create 2 paintings, but they must choose 1 for judging. Winners will be announced at 1 p.m.
– Artist Check-in Location: Hardy on Broad: 440 Broad Street, Rome, GA 30161 View Map
– Designated plein air painting zone: View Map (pdf)
– Event Parking: To park close to the Check-In area, park on Broad Street between E 5th Ave & E 6th Ave; however street parking is limited to only 3 hours. For free, all-day parking, park at Rome City Hall & Auditorium at 601 Broad Street. The Rome City Hall parking lot is accessible from W 6th Avenue, W 1st Street, and Broad Street. Rome City Hall is a public facility, parking is open to the public and is not restricted on weekends.
-Event Restrooms: Port-a-potties are located on three of the four blocks of the festival, the restroom inside Hardy on Broad will be open to artists when they check-in to start and also when they return their art.
Note: Parking on the street in front of Hardy on Broad will not be allowed. The street is part of the festival and will be blocked-off to vehicle traffic on the day of the event. Remember any available street parking on Broad Street and the side-streets connected to Broad are limited to 3 hours a day.
What’s New for this Year’s 2025 Showcase:
– We are accepting the medium of pastels (chalk or oil) into 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
– We will announce our judge for this year’s contest soon!
– Plus we are working on some new additions to this year’s event – to be announced soon!
Suggested Painting Sites View Map (pdf)
– Rome City Hall & Auditorium & Capitoline Wolf
– Historic DeSoto Theatre
–Historic Floyd County Courthouse
–Downtown Rome & buildings
–Town Green/ Chief John Ross Pedestrian Bridge
–Robert Redden Footbridge (Flag Bridge)
– Historic Myrtle Hill Cemetery & Overlook of Rome (Top of Myrtle Hill)
– Rome Clocktower
–Historic Churches
– Fiddlin’ Fest Fun
Artists – Register Now
Questions? Call 706-295-5576, kkent@romega.us
Artists participating in the Plein Air Showcase allow the Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism to use images/video of finished art in promotional materials. The Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism reserves the right to modify the rules and will post any updates to this page.
Tips for Plein Air Painting
Choose a Portable Easel: Opt for a lightweight, compact easel that is both sturdy enough to withstand breezy conditions and easy to set up and take down quickly.
Pack Essentials Only: Bring only the colors and brushes you need for your painting. A streamlined palette encourages simplicity and helps you focus on capturing the essence of the scene.
Bring a Sketchbook: A sketchbook is invaluable for planning your composition before committing to canvas. Take a quick two-minute sketch to map out your ideas.
Be Prepared for the Weather: Dress in layers and bring a hat for sun protection and bring water to stay hydrated.
Embrace Change: The light and scenery will shift as you paint. Instead of resisting these changes, welcome them. This spontaneity adds a unique, dynamic quality to your work.
Additional Supplies: Don’t forget the essentials that can easily be overlooked: a water container, paper towels or rags, a portable chair, and a small table to enhance your painting experience.
Thank you to our showcase partners:
